Antioxidant and cytotoxic study of extract of vegetative and flowering stages leaves Stevia rebaudiana

Abstract

This study was performed to determine the anti-oxidant and in-vitro cytotoxic activity of Stevia rebaudiana plant extract collected during vegetative and flowering stages of plant against the commercial sweetener and Stevioside and Rebaudioside A standards. The anti-oxidant activity was determined by α, α-diphenyl-β- Picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric reducing activity potential (FRAP) assay and cytotoxic activity by MTT assay. Flowering phase extract of Stevia showed greater antioxidant activity in FRAP assay. The in-vitro study was performed on 3 cell lines 3T3 cell line (murine), RAW cell line (murine) and MDA MB231 human cell line where the flowering stage extract showed 55% inhibition in cell growth.