Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Cucurbita maxima flowers (Pumpkin)

N. Muruganantham*¹, S. Solomon², M.M. Senthamilselvi^3
1Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Roever Engineering College, Perambalur, Tamilnadu, India.
²Department of Chemistry, Periyar E.V.R. College (Autonomous), Trichy, Tamilnadu, India.
³Principal, Government Arts College, Ariyalur, Tamilnadu, India.

A B S T R A C T
Cucurbita maxima, belongs to family Cucurbitaceae, is commonly known as pumpkin. Several literature reports suggest it to be antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anticancer, immune modulators, and antibacterial and antihyperlipidaemic. Fresh flowers of Cucurbita maxima were extracted and evaluated for antioxidant activities by 2,2-Diphenyl 1-picryl hydrazyl solution (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sul- phonic acid (ABTS) assay and anti inflammatory activities by human blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization method and Inhibition of albumin denaturation method. The results obtained showed that the ethyl acetate fractions of Cucurbita maxima flowers can be considered as good sources of anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory and can be incorporated into the drug formulations. This study justifies the anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory activity of the compound isolated from ethyl acetate fractions of Cucurbita maxima flowers. Further detailed analysis of this sample is required to identify the presence of bioactive compounds responsible for anti-oxidants activity and anti-inflammatory activities.
Keywords: Cucurbita maxima, Anti-oxidant activity, Anti-inflammatory activity, Albumin denaturation, DPPH, Total antioxidant activity etc.