Iqbal AHMAD, Farrukh AQIL, Zafer MEHMOOD

Antioxidant and free radival scavenging properties of txelve traditionally used indian medicinal plants

The methanoiic crude extracts of 12 traditionally used Indian medicinal plants were screened for their antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties using a-tocopherol and butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) as standard antioxidants. Antioxidant activity was measured by ferric thiocyanate (FTC) assay and compared with the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using diphenyl picryi hydrazyi (DPPH) radicals. The overall antioxidant activity of Lawsonia inermis was the strongest, followed in descending order by Ocimum sanctum, Cichorium intybus, Piper cubeba, Punica granatum, Allium sativum, Delonix regia, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, Mangifera indica, Camellia sinensis, and Trigonelia foenum-graecum. Seven plants, namely Terminalia chebula, Mangifera indica, Terminalia bellerica, Punica granatum, Ocimum sanctum, Cichorium intybus, and Camellia sinensis, showed strong free radical scavenging activity with the DPPH method. Phytochemical analysis of plant extracts indicated the presence of major phytocompounds, including phenolics, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, and tannins. The phenolic concentrations in the above plants ranged from 28.66 to 169.67 mg/g of dry plant extract. A fair correlation between antioxidant/free radical scavenging activity and phenolic content was observed among 9 plants; however, in 3 plants (Piper cubeba, Lawsonia inermis and Trigonelia foenum-graecum), no such relationship was observed. The tested plant extracts showed promising antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity, thus justifying their traditional use.

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