Lonicera quinquelocularis: A rich source of antioxidant for protection against chronic diseases.

The purpose of the research work was to examine the in vitro antioxidant activity of the different aqueous and organic fractions of Lonicera quinquelocularis Hardwicke. The methanol extract was dissolved in distilled water and fractioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, successively. The antioxidant potential of the remaining aqueous and organic fractions was determined by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, ferric thiocyanate assay and total phenolics method. Among these fractions ethyl acetate fraction displayed the maximum antioxidant activity with IC50 of (11.13±0.12µg/ml). It also exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity (0.595±0.00), FRAP value (128.2±4.54µg/mL) and total phenolic contents (66.89±7.73µg/g) as compared to other organic fractions. Phytochemical investigation of the above mentioned fractions showed the presence of flavanoids, phenolics, terpenoids, sugars, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and cardiac glycosides in appreciable amounts, which have major contribution towards antioxidant activity.