<i>In vitro </i>antioxidant studies of <i>Annona squamosa </i>Linn. Leaves

803-807The free radical scavenging potential of the leaves of A. squamosa was studied by using different antioxidant models of screening. The ethanolic extract at 1000 μg/ml showed maximum scavenging of the radical cation, 2,2-azinobis- (3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6- su lphonate) (ABTS) observed upto 99.07% followed by the scavenging of the stable radical 1, 1-diphenyl, 2- picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) (89.77 %) and nitric oxide radical (73.64 %) at the same concentration. However, the extract showed only moderate scavenging activity of superoxide radicals and antilipid peroxidation potential, which was performed using rat- brain homogenate.The findings justify the therapeutic applications of the plant in the indigenous system of medicine, augmenting its therapeutic value