RESUMO
Background: Since ancient times, plants and its derivatives have been used in traditional medicine to curehuman diseases. In the past few decades, the research on medicinal plants has gained significant attention dueto the medicinal potential of certain phytochemicals against cancer and metabolic disorders. The present studyhas examined the alcoholic extract of Caralluma quadrangula (Ca qu) for its quantitative and qualitativecomposition and its anti-oxidant as well as anti-hemolytic properties. The findings have potential implicationsfor plausible intervention in reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated pathologies. Materials and Methods: An80 % aqueous-methanol extract of areal parts of Ca qu was prepared. It was subjected to qualitative andquantitative phytochemical analysis. Anti-oxidant potential was determined by inhibition of 2,2-Diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’ -Azino-bis-3- ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals; while, antihemolytic activity was determined by the ability of the extract to protect human RBCs from oxidative insult.Results: The extract showed abundance of polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds at concentrations of 8.6 GAE% w/w and 0.90 mg QE % w/w, respectively. Tannins, alkaloids and saponins were present at theconcentration of 8.50 mg TAE % w/w, 2.8 mg % w/w and 20.07 mg % w/w, respectively. Qualitative HPLCcolumn chromatography indicated the presence of rutin in the extract. In an increasing concentration rangefrom 31.25 to 2000 μg/ml the extract provided significant protection to RBCs from membrane damage inducedby ROS. In the DPPH and ABTS inhibition assays, the extract showed a dose-dependent inhibition of theradicals in the concentration range of 50 -1000 μg/ml and 10-250 μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of Ca qu contains several classes of important phytochemicals with known therapeuticsignificance. The extract possesses significant anti-oxidant and anti-hemolytic potential as demonstrated instandard assays. The findings can be exploited for advanced studies on pharmacological premises forintervention in different diseases that are associated with an imbalanced production of ROS/free radicals incells including certain anemic disorders and cancers. The formulations derived from the plant are expected topossess therapeutic advantage as nutraceuticals or as adjuvants with standard treatment regimen.