Abstract

REACTIVE OXYGEN AND NITROGEN SPECIES SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF APLOTAXIS AURICULATA RHIZOMES

R. Shalini and S. Velavan*

Abstract

Antioxidants are an inhibitor of the process of oxidation, even at relatively small concentration and thus have diverse physiological role in the body. Natural antioxidants are constituents of many fruits and vegetables and they have attracted a great deal of public and scientific attention. Natural antioxidants occur in all parts of plants. In the present study to investigate the antioxidant potential of Aplotaxis auriculata rhizome extract. The Aplotaxis auriculata extract was screened for in vitro antioxidant activity by nitric oxide radical scavenging, oxygen radical scavenging such as DPPH scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, total antioxidant, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide scavenging and metal chelation activity at different concentrations. Throughout the studies extract showed marked antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of the extract may be due to the phytochemicals present in it. The antioxidant activity was found to be concentration dependent and may be attributed to the presence of bioflavonoids content in the of Aplotaxis auriculata. Overall, the plant extract is a source of natural antioxidants which might be helpful in preventing the progress of various oxidative stress mediated diseases including aging.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity, Aplotaxis auriculata, Radical scavenging, Reactive Oxygen and nitrogen species.