Antioxidant potential and cytotoxic assay of ethanol extract of Gomphrena globosa L. flower

Antioxidants are compounds that can inhibit reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, and other free radicals to prevent damage to normal cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of ethanol extract of Gomphrena globosa flowers. G. globosa flower extract was obtained from the maceration method using 96% ethanol. The phytochemical content of the extract was identified using TLC. The antioxidant activity of the extract was characterized using the DPPH free radical scavenging method and Nitric Oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reagent after LPS induction on Vero cell line. The extract cytotoxicity test was carried out by the WST-1 Assay. The results showed that the ethanol extract of G. globosa flowers has antioxidant properties with an IC50 value of 49.9 µg/ml via inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging and it was not toxic with an IC50 value of 1700 µg /ml in WST-1 assay. G. globosa flower extract also reduced the LPS-induced NO production. The antioxidant activity of G. globosa flower extract can be caused by the presence of terpenoids, saponins, and flavonoids. The conclusion was G. globosa flower extract has antioxidant activity and not toxic. It showed that Gomphrena globosa flower extract has the potential to be used as an antioxidant agent.