Objective: To evaluate the antioxid

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera)
young leaves by in vivo as well as in vitro assays. Methods: In vitro study included estimation of
total phenolic, total flavonol, total flavonoid and total antioxidant power (FRAP assay). In addition,
in vivo study was done with the identified most effective dose of 200 mg/kg of its lyophilized
powder on normal and diabetic rats. Its effect on different oxidative free radical scavenging
enzymes, viz, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), lipid
peroxide (LPO) contents were measured. Results: Significant increase in activities of SOD, CAT,
GST while, a decrease in LPO content was observed. Whereas, total phenolic, flavonoid and
flavonol contents in the extract were found to be 120 mg/g of GAE, 40.5 mg/g of QE and 12.12 mg/g of
QE, respectively. On the other hand, FRAP assay results of M. oleifera leaves was (85.00依5.00) 毺M
of Fe
++/g of extract powder. Conclusions: The significant antioxidant activities of M. oleifera
leaves from both in vivo as well as in vitro studies suggests that the regular intake of its leaves
through diet can protect normal as well as diabetic patients against oxidative damage.