Variation in antioxidant activity at two ripening stages of wild mango, Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz., an underutilized fruit

Antioxidant compounds play a significant role in preventing and scavenging free-radicals by reducing oxidative stress and providing protection to humans against degenerative diseases and infections. Obviously, antioxidant molecules of plant origin are pivotal to combat the oxidative harm in cells. Present work intended to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the fruits of Spondias pinnata. Methanol extracts of the fruits at two stages of maturity were prepared and investigated by various antioxidants analyses such as total antioxidant activity, reducing power and radical scavenging assays (DPPH, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide). Its total phenol, flavonoid and tannin contents were also determined. Spondias pinnata fruit extracts exhibited effective antioxidant activity and its IC50 values of the unripe fruits were 65, 66, 72.23, 83.25, 66.75 ?g/ml and ripe fruits were 124.24, 92.50, 97.66, 144.10, 72.25 ?g/ml, for total antioxidant activity, reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging, nitric oxide radical scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays respectively. The extracts, especially unripe fruit extract had good amounts of total phenolic and flavonoid contents which might contribute the antioxidant activities considerably. It is evident from the study that the fruits of S. pinnata possessed potent antioxidant activity and it can be considered as a good dietary choice among the underutilized fruits as well as common fruits. Therefore, wild mango may be a good choice of antioxidants of plant origin for dietary and pharmaceutical uses.