Antioxidant Capacity and Cell Proliferation of Scoparia dulcis Linn. Extracts

Abstract

Scoparia dulcis has been used to prevent bleeding and promote wound healing, but the mechanism is still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the radical scavenging of crude extracts of S. dulcis. The xanthine oxidase activity suggested that aqueous extract of S. dulcis showed greater antioxidant activity as compare to methanolic extract, and displayed nearly similar antioxidant property with pure ascorbic acid. The result of DPPH assay revealed that the aqueous extract of aerial parts showed stronger antioxidant capacity than the root parts. In addition, this plant extracts protected DNA from nicking by the metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO). The Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells were cultured in the presence of extracts of S. dulcis. MTT cell proliferation assay indicated that this plant extracts was non-toxic to Sf9 cells, and increased in cell proliferation. These results suggest a mechanism of the extracts to accelerate wound healing. It may be possible to use this plant extracts in the treatment of wounds.