Antioxidant Activities of Plant Extracts from Carlemannia tetragona and Celastrus virens

The aim of the study was to determine the antioxidant activities of the plants with origin of the Far East. The Carlemannia tetragona Hook f., which is a species of plant in the family Carlemanniaceae and Celastrus virens which is a species of plant in the family Celastraceae were tested for antioxidant activities. Samples were prepared using 95% ethanol using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate free radical) assay for assessing the antioxidant activity. Ascorbic acid was used for positive control for DPPH assay. DPPH assay experiment showed that extracts of the Carlemannia tetragona Hook. f., and Celastrus virens might have anti-oxidant activity 54.5% and 258% higher, respectively, compared to control. To determine the cell toxicity of these plant extracts, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used. MTT assay experiment showed that Carlemannia tetragona Hook. f., and Celastrus virens might have less toxicity 23.3% and 27.5%, respectively, compared to control. Taken together, these experiments showed that Celastrus virens extracts might have much higher antioxidant activities than Carlemannia tetragona Hook. f., with relatively lower toxicity. This implies that this study might provide a basis to develop a new powerful antioxidant candidate for human diseases therapeutics.