**3. Therapeutic potentials of** *γ***- oryzanol**

In the recent times, many researchers have conducted both *in-vitro* and *in-vivo* experiments to explore the bioactivities of *γ*- oryzanol. Some of these investigations have revealed promising role of *γ*- oryzanol in certain medical conditions. The pharmacological properties of *γ*- oryzanol have been summarized in **Table 1** and depicted in graphical abstract, **Figure 2**.

#### **3.1 Antioxidant activity**

A compound that halts the effect of free radicals towards cells is referred to as an antioxidant. Free radicals are unstable molecules generated by a reaction to environmental and caused by other factors. Antioxidants can be natural or artificial in nature. Degeneration of lipids by means of oxidation is referred to as lipid peroxidation. In general, free radicals tend to "steal" electrons from lipids in cell membranes, ultimately leading to cell damage which activates the free radical chain mechanism.

The antioxidant activity of *γ*- oryzanol was assessed against hydroxyl radicals generated by Fenton reaction, and superoxide radicals generated by auto oxidation of FeCl2. The free radical scavenging efficacy of *γ* - oryzanol was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay while the lipid peroxidation preventive activity was screened by 2,2-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) AMVN assay. Finally, the antioxidant potential of *γ*- oryzanol within oil samples was analyzed by conductometry in accelerated oxidation conditions. IT, the time taken to achieve sharp increase of conductivity was measured in oils in the presence and absence of *γ*- oryzanol butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoulene (BHT) at different concentrations in a study conducted by Juliano *et al.* [6].

