EVALUATION OF PUNICA GRANATUM FRUIT PEELS EXTRACTS FOR ITS FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY

Objective: To evaluate free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, aqueous, methanol:water and methanol extracts of Punica granatum fruit peels (PGFP) (Family: Lythraceae) by in vitro methods.Methods: The free radical scavenging effect was studied using 1,1â€Diphenylâ€2â€Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide radical scavenging assay. Antiâ€inflammatory activity was evaluated by HRBC membrane stabilization assay.Results: All the extracts of PGFP exhibited significant free radical scavenging effect. The methanol extract exhibited maximum significant DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 24.43 and 45.56µg/ml and maximum stabilization (86.96%) of HRBC membrane at 80 µg/ml among all the extracts of PGFP.Conclusion: Methanol as an extraction solvent was found to be the best in obtaining the extract of PGFP rich in radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory phytoconsituents.Â