Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF SIDDHA POLYHERBAL FORMULATION MADHUMEGA CHOORANAM (MMC) USING IN VITRO ASSAY MODELS

C. Anbarasi*, S. Thanikachalam, P. Sathiyarajeswaran

Abstract

Background: Siddha system of medicine has its origin from Dravidian civilization is being in practice in southern parts of India, northern Sri Lanka, Malaysia and also in Tamil speaking parts of the world. Madhumega chooranam(MMC) is the Siddha polyherbal formulation which is being used traditionally for the control of blood sugar containing seven herbs viz., Murraya koenigii, Terminalia chebula, Emblica officinalis, Tinospora cordifolia, Syzygium cumini, Cyperus rotundus and Phyllanthus niruri. In diabetes mellitus, persistent hyperglycemia causes increased production of free radicals, mainly reactive oxygen species (ROS), from auto-oxidation and glycosylation of glucose and protein respectively. Hence there is an imbalance in the antioxidant level which causes oxidative stress, which plays a vital role in presenting vascular complications. The present study was carried out to investigate the in-vitro anti-oxidant activity of Madhumega chooranam. Methods: Madhumega chooranam (MMC) was studied for in-vitro antioxidant activity along with phenolic content to evaluate the radical quenching potential. In-vitro assays like DPPH radical scavenging activity, pro-oxidant or reducing power effect, total antioxidant activity, superoxide radical scavenging activities were carried out and compared with the standard ascorbic acid. Results: The drug MMC had shown 61.57% inhibition at 140μg for DPPH free radical scavenging activity against 68% for standard ascorbic acid (IC50 for MMC is 92.4 μg/ml and 63.0 μg/ml for standard). IC50 for pro oxidant activity of MMC was 88.45μg/ml while the standard was 92.7 μg/ml. IC50 for total antioxidant activity of MMC was 27.82 μg/ml, (standard 100.75 μg/ml). IC50 for super oxide radical scavenging activity of MMC was 70.70μg/ml (standard, 88.00 μg/ml). Conclusion: This study has validated the use of the anti-diabetic Siddha polyherbal formulation Madhumega chooranam as a potential anti-oxidant.

Keywords: Siddha, polyherbal drug, madhumega chooranam, antioxidant activity.