Antioxidant activity of water and alcohol extracts of Thuja orientalis leaves

Water and alcohol extracts were prepared from dried and powdered leaves of Thuja orientalis (T. orientalis). The reducing power, total phenolic content, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity, inhibitory effect on Fe (II)-EDTA- (Fenton reaction system) induced DNA damage and inhibitory effect on human red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis were evaluated in the present study. At a concentration of 200 mg, water and alcohol extracts of T. orientalis inhibited the hydrolysis of DNA by 72.859% and 65.312%, respectively. Water and alcohol extracts of T. orientalis also inhibited 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride induced RBC hemolysis to the extent of 69.30% and 54.55%, respectively. The reducing power and antioxidative activity of water extract was found to be more than that of alcohol extract. This is attributable to the presence of higher amount of phenolic compounds in water extract. The present results indicate that the T. orientalis extracts are rich sources of natural antioxidants and can protect DNA and human red blood cells against free radical induced oxidative damage.