RESUMO
The free radical scavenging potential of the leaves of A. squamosa was studied by using different antioxidant models of screening. The ethanolic extract at 1000 microg/ml showed maximum scavenging of the radical cation, 2,2-azinobis- (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (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 superroxide 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.