Antimutagenic and antioxidant potential of aqueous and acidified methanol extracts from citrus limonum fruit residues

Aqueous and acidified methanol extracts from C. limonum fruit residues (CLFR) were evaluated for their total phenolic contents, antioxidant and antimutagenic activities. Total phenolic contents (TPC) of aqueous (30% and 70%) and acidified (0.5 N and 1.0 N) methanol extracts from CLFR were estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method whereas in-vitro antioxidant activity was assessed calorimetrically by measuring DPPH° scavenging capacity and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation. Anti-mutagenic potential of the extracts was appraised by Ames bacterial reverse mutation test. TPC, DPPH° scavenging capacity and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation were varied from 27.75-126.35 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DW, 46-91%, and 34-83%, respectively. All the tested extracts of CLFR noticeably hunted mutagens (16.47-55.69 %) whereas none of these caused mutagenesis. Overall, acidified methanol extracts from CLFR exhibited higher extraction yields, TPC, inhibition of peroxidation and DPPH radical scavenging activity among others indicating a significant (p<0.05) variation of these attributes in relation to residue samples and extraction media. The results support that CLFR (peel and pulp biomass) being a rich source of phenolic antimutagens, can be explored as a potential candidate for the development of natural chemo-preventive drugs and nutracueticals.