Asian Journal of Research in Chemistry

Jiby Elias ¹, M. G. Rajesh ¹, N. P. Anish ¹, M. S. Manu ², Iwin C. Varkey ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology, Navajyothi Sree Karunakara Guru Research Centre for Ayurveda and Siddha, Uzhavoor, Kottayam, Kerala, IN
2 CMS College of Science and Commerce, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu – 641006, IN

Abstract

In vitro antioxidant activities and preliminary phytochemical profiling of the methanol extract of the stem bark of Terminalia chebula Retz. (METC) of Combretaceae family were investigated. Total reducing power of the extract increased with increasing concentration which indicated that the plant has inherent antioxidant potential. The extract at a concentration of 500 μg/ml showed maximum activity (85.72%) for 2, 2-diphenyl- 2- picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) followed by nitric oxide (82.28%), superoxide (79.12%) and hydroxyl (77.28%) radicals. The IC₅₀ values of DPPH, nitric oxide, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were 72μg/ml, 73μg/ml, 69μg/ml and 80 μg/ml respectively. METC had 28.6mg phenols per gram. METC showed the presence of phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, quinines, anthroquinones, tannins, carbohydrates, volatile oils, and phenolics. However, glycoside, coumarins, reducing sugars and resins were absent. Thin layer chromatogram showed two spots (Rf: 0.41, 0.56) under visible light and five spots (Rf: 0.41, 0.49, 0.56, 0.62, 0.71) on exposure to Iodine vapour. The findings suggest that the methanol extract of T. chebula possesses significant free radical scavenging activities in different in vitro models and could be a potent source of natural antioxidants.

Keywords

Antioxidant Activity, Reducing Power, DPPH, Phenol.

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Jiby Elias ¹, M. G. Rajesh ¹, N. P. Anish ¹, P. Deepa ², N. Jayan ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology, Navajyothi Sree Karunakara Guru Research Centre for Ayurveda and Siddha, Uzhavoor, Kottayam-686634, Kerala, IN
2 Union Christian College, Alwaye, Ernakulam-683102, Kerala, IN

Abstract

The present investigation evaluates the in vitro antioxidant potential of the methanolic extract of Simaruba glauca (MESG). The reducing power of the extract increased with the increasing concentration which indicated that the plant has inherent antioxidant potential. MESG at 250 μg/ml showed maximum scavenging activity of DPPH (83.87%) followed by hydroxyl (80.19%), superoxide (76.25%) and nitric oxide (70.43%) radicals. The half inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide, and nitric oxide radicals were 21 μg/ml, 26 μg/ml, 27 μg/ml and 32 μg/ml respectively against the corresponding reference standards. Phytochemical screening of MESG revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavanoids, sterol/terpenoids, quinines, anthroquinones, glycoside, reducing sugar, carbohydrate, volatile oil and phenolic compounds. However, coumarins, saponins, tannins and resins were absent in the extract. The total phenolic content of MESG was 24.6 mg/g. The findings suggest that MESG possesses potent antioxidant activity and has great importance in nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical preparations.

Keywords

Simaruba glauca, DPPH, Reducing Power, Phenol.

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