Abstract

FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF TURMERIC ROOT AQUEOUS EXTRACT

*Uzomba N. I., Amaralam E. C., Odu D. A. and Onyedim C. B.

Abstract

In this study, the free radical scavenging activities of turmeric root aqueous extract was evaluated for its hydroxyl radical scavenging activities reducing power assay and super oxide dismutase scavenging activity using ascorbic acid as standard/control. The results obtained shows that the turmeric extract had a high hydroxyl radical scavenging and reducing power potentials than the ascorbic acid. The extract also had a high superoxide dismutase scavenging ability when compared to the ascorbic acid as standard. Therefore, the result shows that aqueous extracts of turmeric contains a significant amount of polyphenol substances that have remarkable scavenging activities and can be used as a plant natural anti oxidant activities.

Keywords: Free radical scavenging activity, Turmeric Root, Aqueous Extract, Ascorbic acid.