Prooxidant/Antioxidant Ratio (ProAntidex) as a Better Index of Net Free Radical Scavenging Potential

• Main Authors: Hwee Ming Cheng, Lai Teng Ling, Uma D Palanisamy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2010-11-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: pro-oxidant; DPPH; reducing power; antioxidants; EmblicaTM
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/11/7884/

The antioxidant activity of several Malaysian plant extracts was analyzed simultaneously with their pro-oxidant capacity. This ratio represents an index (ProAntidex) of the net free radical scavenging ability of whole plant extracts. We observed that ethanolic extracts of Nephelium lappaceum peel, Fragaria x ananassa leaf, Lawsonia inermis leaf, Syzygium aqueum leaf and grape seed had a lower Pro-Antidex than the commercially available Emblica™ extract which is an antioxidant agent with very low pro-oxidant activity. Among the aqueous extracts, Lawsonia inermis leaf, Nephelium mutobile leaf and grape seed had lower pro-oxidant activity compared to the Emblica™ extract. Among these extracts, aqueous extract of Nephelium mutobile leaf had a very low index of 0.05 compared to 0.69 for Emblica™. Most of the extracts had a far lower ProAntidex compared to the Vitamin C. The index enables us to identify extracts with high net free radical scavenging activity potential. The ProAntidex is beneficial as a screening parameter to the food industries and healthcare.