Free Radical-scavenging and Antimutagenic Potential of Acetone, Chloroform and Methanol Extracts of Leaf of Argemone Mexicana

Antioxidant and antimutagenic potency of acetone, chloroform and methanol extracts of Argemone mexicana leaves were investigated by employing nitroblue tetrazolium and Ames assay. Maximum superoxide anion radicals scavenging responses noticed were 84.0, 81.0 and 75.0 % in acetone, methanol and chloroform extracts at a dose of 200μg/ml. Inhibitory potential was compared with the standard (L-ascorbic acid). IC50 value of acetone extract of A. mexicana leaves was double to that of L-ascorbic acid showing maximum inhibitory effect. Methanol extract showed maximum (antimutagenic effect) inhibition i.e. 135.4% at doses of 1.00x10 in pre-incubation and 85.40 % at doses of 0.50 x 10μg/ml in co-incubation mode, respectively. Chloroform extract showed moderate inhibition i.e. 40.66 and 66.66% in co-incubation and less i.e. -17.83 and 34.00 % in pre-incubation mode at above concentrations. These results indicate that leaves of A. mexicana have antioxidant as well as antimutagenic activity. Further studies are in progress to evaluate the effect of leaves extracts by other antioxidant and antimutagenic assays and to identify the factors responsible for these activities.