Membrane Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Gmelina arborea Seed Extracts and Their Fatty Acid Composition

Aims: In the present study different extracts of seeds of Gmelina arborea were prepared and evaluated their membrane stabilizing and antioxidant effects. The Fatty acid composition was also estimated.
Study Design: Fatty acid analysis by GCMS and evaluation of membrane stabilizing and antioxidant activity by hypotonic solution induced hemolysis and DPPH method respectively.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dolphin PG Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Dehradun, India, between October 2013 to September 2014.
Methodology: All extract were tested for presence of phytoconstituents i.e., alkaloid, carbohydrate, sterols, proteins, amino acids, saponin, and phenolic compounds in different extracts. Membrane Stabilizing effect was studied by hypotonic solution induced hemolysis of erythrocyte. Antioxidant activity was studied by DPPH method at a different concentration 50 μg/ml to 500 μg/ml. GCMS analysis was done for petroleum ether extract with the help of Perkin Elmer Clarus-500 model coupled with CLARUS-500 Mass spectrometer.
Results: Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloid, carbohydrate, sterols, proteins, amino acids, saponin, and phenolic compounds in different extracts. Methanol extract was the richest extract for tested phytoconstituents. Different fatty acids were present in petroleum ether extract which was analyzed by GCMS. Maximum membrane stabilizing activity of seeds of Gmelina arborea showed in acetone (45.39±0.84) and methanol (44.12±0.72) extracts at a concentration of 2000 µg/ml in comparison to standard drug. From antioxidant studies, methanol extract showed maximum antioxidant activity (91.99±0.46) at a concentration of 500 µg/ml than other extract in comparison to standard drug ascorbic acid.
Conclusion: From above studies it could be concluded that methanol and acetone extract showed maximum membrane stabilizing and antioxidant activities.