The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and antioxidant activities of the aqueous leaf extract and ethanolic seed extract of Raphanus sativus Linn. belonging to the family Brassicaceae. The ability to inhibit ACE was evaluated by quantifying the decrease in N-[3-(2- furyl)acryloyl]-L-phenylalanylglycylglycine (FAPGG) peak area at 345 nm using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). FAPGG was used as the substrate in the assay. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by evaluating its hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide radical scavenging abilities, reducing power ability, ferrous chelating ability and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The ACE inhibitory potency of the seed extract (278.54±1.67µg/ml) was found to be higher than the leaf extract and is compared with the standard drug lisnopril (0.19 ± 0 .02 ng/ml). However, both extracts possess significant antioxidant activity when compared with the standard. The results of this study suggest that the ethanolic seed extract of R.sativus has promising bioactive compounds which might have a beneficial effect in the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
