Antioxidant Activity of Quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-Arabinopyranoside Isolated from Hibiscus Vitifolius (Linn.) in Mercury Chloride Induced Toxicity

The fresh flowers of Hibiscus vitifolius Linn. were screened to determine antioxident activity. A methanol extract of flower was prepared and partitioned sequentially with petrol, ether and ethyl acetate. The active compounds were identified by UV, 1H NMR (Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) and 13C NMR (Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) as quercetin and quercetin 30-arabinopyranoside. The antioxident activity was also studied in mercury chloride (HgCl2) toxicity through biochemical parameters such as SOD, CAT, GSH, GPX, AST, LPO, vitamin C, vitamin E and urea. Quercetin 3-0-arabinopyranoside treated rats showed decrease in lipid peroxidation. Statistically significant increased in enzymes compared to HgCl2 induced group was observed. Which indicates that quercetin 3-0-arabinopyranoside isolated from the flowers of Hibiscus vitifolius act as a potent antioxidant.