Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING CAPACITY OF IN VITRO AND IN VIVO REGENRATD LEAF, STEM AND ROOT TISSUES OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA- POSHITA VARIETY

*Viji M.O., Parvatham R

Abstract

Many medicinal plants contain large amounts of antioxidants such as secondary metabolites, which can play an important role in absorbing and neutralizing free radicals. In the present study antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging efficacy of in vitro and in vivo regenerated plant extracts of Withania somnifera- Poshita variety was carried out. Among the various parts tested for SOD and catalase activity, the in vitro regenerated root possessed more activity when compared to the in vitro regenerated stem and in vitro regenerated leaves. But peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase showed more activity in the in vitro regenerated leaf possess when compared to in vitro regenerated stem and in vitro regenerated root. The content of the non-enzymic antioxidants were significantly higher (P>0.05) in the in vitro regenerated leaves. The methanolic extract of Withania somnifera- Poshita variety leaves showed minimum concentration and more effective in scavenging DPPH, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. This radical scavenging activity might be due to the active antioxidants present in the methanolic extract of Withania somnifera- Poshita variety leaves.

Keywords: Medicinal plants; in vitro, in vivo, Antioxidant activity, Free radical scavenging capacity.