Journal - ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, PHENOL AND FLAVONOID CONTENT OF SOME LESS KNOWN MEDICINAL PLANTS OF ASSAM
ABSTRACT
Ethanolic extract of four medicinal plants
Polygonum microcephalum, Moringa oleifera, Croton tiglium and Gomphrena
globosa were examined for antioxidant activity, and phenol and
flavonoid content. Total phenol and flavonoid content and DPPH radical
scavenging activity of the extracts were spectrophotometrically
determined. Catechol, Quercetin, and ascorbic acid were taken as
standard in case of phenol, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity
respectively. The total phenol and total flavonoid content was observed highest
in P. microcephalum. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was highest in
M. oleifera. There observed a relationship between phenol and
flavonoid content but failed to show relationship between phenolic
content and antioxidant activity of the ethanol extracts of the plants.
KEY WORDS
antioxidant, phenol, flavonoid, medicinal
plants.
INTRODUCTION
Medicinal plants have been playing a vital role
on the health and healing of man since down of
human civilization. In spite of tremendous
development in the field of allopathic
medicines
during the 20th century, plants still remain one
of the major sources of drugs in modern as
well as in traditional system of medicine.
Medicinal plants are source of certain
bioactive
molecules which act as antioxidants and
antimicrobial agents1-4. There is an upsurge in
demand of plant materials containing phenolics
as they retard oxidative degradation of lipids
and thereby improving quality and nutritional
value of food4-6.
Free radicals are responsible for several
disorders in human body7-8. Oxidative process
is one of the most important routes for
producing free radicals in food, drug, and even
in living systems. The free radicals in the
human body have adverse effects on its
immune system9. Consumption of natural
oxidants as free radical scavengers may
become necessary to improve the depleted
immune system7, 10-12. It is reported that the
antioxidant constituents of plant materials
provide protection from coronary heart disease
and cancer13 and protect the body from
damage caused by free radical induced
oxidative stress14-15.
Recently, more attention has been given
in
medicinal plants of therapeutic potentials
as antioxidants in reducing free radical
induced
tissue injury. Many plants have been
investigated
in the search
for novel
antioxidants 16-24. The synthetic antioxidants
have restriction for use, as they are suspected
to be carcinogenic. Therefore, the importance
of searching for and exploiting natural
antioxidants has increased greatly in present
years 25.
P. microcephalum, M.
oleifera, C. tiglium
and G. globosa are commonly used in
various
ailments by different ethnic group of Assam.
Leaves of P. microcephalum and M.
oleifera
are used as vegetable. P. microcephalum
is
believed to be appetizer and it releafs from
acidity in stomach. Leaves of M. oleifera
leaf
are believed to cure jaundice and prevent
viral infection that cause measles.
C.tiglium
leaves are used to cure fungal infection in
rotten nails. Leaves of G. globosa
are used to
stop bleeding due to cut injury.
The purpose of the present study was
to investigate the antioxidant activity, phenol
and flavonoid content of some potential
medicinal plants P. macrocephalum, M.
oleifera, C. tiglidium and
G. globosa .
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