The leaves of Cissus sicyoides have been utilized in traditional medicine. The berries however are underutilized and do not appear to be widely consumed. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant properties of C. sicyoides berries.

The free radical scavenging activity and IC50 value (inhibitory concentration) of C.sicyoides berries was determined utilizing the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Aqueous two-phase partitioning was utilized for preliminary purification of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). PAL activity was determined using an endpoint spectrophotometric assay. The cytotoxicity of the berries was assessed by use of the Brine shrimp assay.

C. sicyoides berries exhibit excellent free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 0.99 mg/mL which is intermediate to that of raspberries and blackberries. The berries are a potential source of PAL with enzyme activity of 0.10 ± 0.01 U/mg protein.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fruits are non toxic and may be utilized as a source of antioxidants. It is evident that the plant is a good source of bioactive compounds with significant potential for food, beverage and medical applications.