Abstract

Tobacco use is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. Out of several possible components of tobacco, the free radical present in tobacco induces oxidative stress which ultimately leads to the damage of DNA. In the present study, an attempt was made to find the natural potential tobacco free radical scavenger, by using different standard assays. Viola odorata has been known for diverse therapeutic applications since the ancient time, so in the present study, the tobacco free radical scavenging activity of V. odorata was explored. A significant increase in inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of V. odorata ethanolic extract was observed, when mixed with ethanolic extract of tobacco, which signify that most of the anti-oxidant activity of  V. odorata has been utilized in the inhibition of tobacco free radicals, leading to increment of IC₅₀ values in different assays. This positive finding was validated by four different types of assays. The various standard assays like DPPH, nitric oxide, Fe²⁺ chelating and hydroxyl radical scavenging were explored to support the study.

Key words: Viola odorata, Nicotiana tabacum, antioxidant property, mixture of extract, tobacco related cancer.