Abstract

Evaluation of Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Various Leaf Extracts from Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.) Cogn.,

Vadivukkarasi Sasikumar and Pavithra Kalaisezhiyen

The present study was to compare the effect of in vitro free radical scavenging activity between the various leaf extracts (aqueous, methanol, acetone chloroform and petroleum ether) of Kedrostis foetidissima. The free radical scavenging activity was found to be high in methanolic extract for DPPH, hydroxyl, nitric oxide, superoxide,hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) radical in a concentration dependent manner followed by chloroform, aqueous, acetone and petroleum ether extracts. The metal chelating activity and reducing power ability was also similar as above. The content of total phenols, flavonoids and tannins was also found to be high in methanolic extract which may be correlated to its antioxidant activity. Thus the result suggests that the methanolic leaf extract of K.foetidissima could serve as a potential source of antioxidants and can be explored as a therapeutic agent in free radical induced diseases.