A report on antimutagenic and antioxidant activities of Gallic Acid

Abstract

Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) is an organic acid and naturally occurring polyhydroxyphenolic compound abundantly found in various fruits and vegetables. This compound is widely used to cure various disorders and has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antidiabetic, antimalarial and antiallergic activities. Therefore, this study was planned to investigate its other medicinal values such as antimutagenic and antioxidant activities. The antimutagenic activity of gallic acid was checked by using Ames assay. Antioxidant activities was determined through various in vitro assays like DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay, lipid peroxidation, deoxyribose degradation (site-specific and non-site specific modes), and reducing power assay. In the present study, gallic acid showed strong free radical scavenging and antimutagenic effects in both in vitro antioxidant and antimutagenic assays.