Evaluation of Antioxidant Effectiveness of a Few Herbal Plants

Abstract

We have screened a number of plants from the Indian soil for potential antioxidant properties out of which fifteen extracts were found to be positive. Leaves/bulk from the plants were crushed and extracted with organic solvents by three different ways. The first group of plants were extracted with CHCL₃:CH₃OH (2:1), evaporated, partitioned between petroleum ether and methanol (9:1), aqueous methanolic part re-partitioned between methanol: H₂O (4:1) and dichloromethane. Methanol was evaporated from the aqueous methanolic part and extracted with n-butanol. The second group of plants were extracted with methanol followed by partitioning between petroleum ether and CH₃OH. The rest of the extraction procedure was the same as above. A third extraction procedure was used for Ocimum sanctum which after extraction with CHCL₃:CH₃OH (2:l), partitioned between CCL₄ and CH₃OH:H₂O (9:1). Aqueous methanolic part was repartitioned between CH₃OH:H₂O (4:1) and CHCI₃ and CHCI₃ soluble part was used for the study. Free radical scavenging activities of the plant extracts were examined by chemiluminescence method. Peroxyl radical was generated from 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), superoxide radical (O₂-_-) from xanthine/xanthine oxidase (XO) and hydroxyl radical (OH) from Xanthine/XO/ FeCl_J EDTA. In addition, O₂-_- and OH. scavenging activities were also determined by cytochrome C reduction and deoxyribose oxidation methods, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate that these plant extracts possess potent antioxidant activities.

Key Words:

• Medicinal plants
• Herbs
• Antioxidants
• Free radicals
• India