Oxidative stress ensues due to the imbalance between the production and elimination of reactive oxygen species eventually leading to cell apoptosis which in turn aggravates chronic disorders like diabetes and its related complications. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Eruca sativa L. against oxidative stress. E. sativa seeds were procured from the local market and authenticated from NISCAIR, New Delhi. In vitro antioxidative potential of E. sativa was evaluated by employing various in vitro antioxidant methods (total phenol content, total antioxidant capacity, reducing power, DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase scavenging activity. The total phenol content was found to be 216.00 and 229.00 mg/g GAE in EA and EHA and total antioxidant capacity was found to be 111.00 and 230.60 μM/g ascorbic acid equivalents respectively. In the DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, nitric oxide scavenging activity and superoxide radical scavenging activity, IC50 values of EA and EHA was found to be 3.28 and 3.53 μg/ml, 188.11 and 181.56μg/ml, 73.05 and 64.33 μg/ml and 87.91 and 41.12mg/ml, respectively. The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that Eruca sativa L. has a significant potential to use as a natural anti-oxidant agent.
