~ 1016 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017; 6(5): 1016-1019 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2017; 6(5): 1016-1019 Received: 20-07-2017 Accepted: 21-08-2017 Shibam Mondal Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh Imrul Hossain Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh Md. Nur Islam Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh Correspondence Shibam Mondal Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh Determination of antioxidant potential of Cucurbita pepo Linn. (An edible herbs of Bangladesh) Shibam Mondal, Imrul Hossain and Md. Nur Islam Abstract For initial screening 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) was applied on the TLC plate which indicated the presence of antioxidant components. The anti-oxidant potential of the ethanolic extract of leaves and stems of Cucurbita pepo Linn. was determined from their scavenging activity of 1, 1- diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) as well as from phenolic and flavonoid content. The ethanolic extract possessed a significant DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 30 μg/ml compared to standard ascorbic acid which was 8 μg/ml. The total phenolic content of ethanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo Linn. revealed to be 17.49 mg GAE/g of dried plant material. The total flavonoid content of ethanol extract of Cucurbita pepo Linn. revealed to be 25.43 mg QE/g of dried plant material. Keywords: Antioxidant activity, Ethanolic extract, Cucurbita pepo Linn. DPPH Introduction Antioxidants play an important role in nutritional by lengthening the shelf life of food and reducing nutritional losses and formation of harmful substances. The safety of synthetic antioxidants, such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are now in doubted [1,2] .Thus, attention is now increasingly paid to the development and utilization of more effective and non-toxic antioxidants of natural origin. A great number of natural medicinal plants have been tested for their antioxidant activities and results have shown that the raw extracts or isolated pure compounds from them were more effective antioxidants in vitro than BHT or vitamin E [3] . So, medicinal plants can be a potential source of natural antioxidants [4] . Cucurbita pepo Linn. an edible herbs of Bangladesh belongs to the family cucurbitaceae commonly known as Misti Cumra, Pumpkin, Vegetable marrow, Crookneck squash, Vegetable spaghetti, Crookneck squash, Crookneck squash, Spaghetti melon, Squash. The plants are typically 1-2.5 feet high, 2-3 feet wide, and have yellow flowers [5] . The leaves of cucurbita pepo Linn. simple and Foliolate and sessile or subsessile. Stem is striate, sparsely pubescent and with capitate glandular hairs; tendrils present. Traditionally the pumpkin seeds are used in treating parasites and worms, bladder infections. Leaves are used as a painkiller, a treatment for nausea, and a boost to haemoglobin content of the blood [6] . The herbs are also used in traditional folk medicine to treat cold and alleviate ache [7] . Upon sufficient literature survey on the different plants (Citrullus lanatus, Momordica charantia, Cucumis sativus) of Cucurbitaceae family it is found that the seed, leaves and stem was used for research work. In case of Cucurbita pepo several researcher found active component from the seed and pulp of Cucurbita pepo Linn. that have antidepressant, antiulcerant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and cytotoxic effects. But the plant’s leaves and stems was not much scientifically explored. That’s why to judge antioxidant potential of the herbs, ethanolic extract of leaves and stem was used. Materials and Method Collection of plants For this present investigation the plant Cucurbita pepo Linn. (Family: Cucurbitaceae) was collected from Khulna, Bangladesh on October, 2013 and was identified by experts at Bangladesh National Herbarium, Mirpur, Dhaka. Preparation of ethanolic extract The collected plant parts were separated from undesirable materials or plants or plant parts and were washed with water. They were sun-dried for one week.