Antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Ferula assafoetida and its essential oil composition

The antioxidant activity of the aerial parts of Ferula assafoetida was determined by employing various in vitro assay systems. IC 50 for DPPH radical-scavenging activity was 380 ± 12 mg ml -1 . The extracts showed good nitric oxide-scavenging activity (IC 50 was 270 ± 3) and Fe 2+ chelating ability (IC 50 was 0.57 ± 0.02 mg ml -1 ). The peroxidation inhibition (antioxidant activity) of the extracts exhibited values from 82% (at 24 hrs) and 88% (at 72 hrs). The extract exhibited a fairy weak reducing power at 25-800 μg ml -1 of extracts which was not comparable with Vitamin C (p 3 method) was 90.9 ± 6.3 mg quercetin equivalent/g of extract powder.