Abstract

EVALUATION OF NUTRACEUTICAL PROPERTIES AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF GARCINIA COWA ROXB. EX CHOISY FRUITS FOUND IN ASSAM (INDIA).

Aniruddha Sarma*, Pranjal Sarmah, Debaleena Kashyap and Archana Kalita

ABSTRACT

Fruits have been used as a dietary source of nutrition and play a vital role in improving our health. Various metabolic activities in our body results in the formation of the free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) that leads to the onset of many diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, liver diseases and atherosclerosis as well as in degenerative processes associated with ageing. Antioxidant compounds in diet play an important role as a health protecting factor. The present study was aimed at investigating the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of fruits obtaining from Garcinia cowa Roxb. ex choisy having ethno medicinal property. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1, 1 -diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The methanolic extract of mature fruits exhibited antioxidant activity significantly. The IC50 value of the methanolic extract was found to be 33.15±0.86 µg/ml. The study revealed that the fruits of this plant can be used as therapeutic agent as it would exert several beneficial effects by virtue of their antioxidant activity and also a rich source of nutrition in our diet system as it was rich in phytochemical constituents.

Keywords: Garcinia cowa, antioxidant activity, total phenolic acid, ascorbic acid, DPPH, Gallic acid.