Gossypium hirsutum

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) seed, a major agricultural by-product, remains an under-explored source of natural antioxidants, which are increasingly sought after as alternatives to synthetic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant potential of an aqueous extract of cotton seed by assessing its DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity. An aqueous extract was prepared from dried, powdered cotton seeds. Its free radical scavenging capacity was determined spectrophotometrically at concentrations ranging from 50 to 250 µg/mL and compared against ascorbic acid as a standard. The cotton seed extract exhibited dose- dependent activity, with inhibition ranging from 29.11% to 46.37%. Linear regression analysis was used to calculate the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀), which was found to be 288.88 µg/mL for the extract, compared to 86.12 µg/mL for the highly potent ascorbic acid standard. The findings demonstrate that aqueous cotton seed extract possesses moderate antioxidant properties, likely attributable to its inherent phytochemicals. This study validates the potential of cotton seed as a viable, low-cost source for natural antioxidants, supporting the valorization of this agricultural by-product for applications in the food and nutraceutical industries.