FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING PROPERTIES OF COLEUS VETTEVEROIDES LEAF EXTRACTS AND DNA PROTECTION AGAINST HYDROGEN PEROXIDE RADICAL DAMAGE: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF ENZYMATIC AND NON-ENZYMATIC ANTIOXIDANTS

Background: For thousands of years, nature provides medicinal agents, and an incredible number of therapeutic drugs have been derived from natural sources, many based on their usage in traditional medicine. Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the antioxidant properties of Coleus vetteveroides leaves. Methodology: Enzymic antioxidants-POD, CAT, and GST, Non-enzymic antioxidants- ascorbic acid, flavonoids, tocopherol, chlorophyll, phenols, carotenoids, and lycopene. The free radical scavenging effects and chelating properties were observed by extracting the leaves with three different solvents (Hexane, Ethylacetate, and Isoproponol). Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to test the DNA protective activity of various leaf extracts against radicals. Result: The plant leaves exhibited strong antioxidant and radical scavenging properties. Conclusion: The leaves of Coleus vetteveroides have a potential content of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants that could protect against oxidants and free radical damage. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenols.