The •
OH radical is an extremely reactive in biological
systems and has been implicated as highly damaging
species in free radical pathology, capable of damaging
biomolecules of the living cells. These radical combines
with nucleotides in DNA and cause strand breakage
leading to carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and cytotoxicity.
Hydroxyl radical (•
OH) scavenging capacity of an extract
is directly related to its antioxidant activity. SAME was
the most effective (66.8 ± 1.7) for hydroxyl radical
scavenging activity followed by SAEE (79.1 ± 3.9 μg/ml),
SACE (86.3 ± 1.56 μg/ml) and SAHE (115 ± 3.2 μg/ml)
(Table 2). The scavenging activity obtained for ascorbic
acid is 57.2 ± 2.65 μg/ml. Extremely low level of association
(P > 0.05, r2 = 0.2003) and (P > 0.05, r2 = 0.2060)
was determined between the •
OH radical scavenging