Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES IN METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF PSORALEA CORYLIFOLIA, AMMI MAJUS AND MUCUNA PURIENS MEDICINAL PLANTS OF WESTERN HIMALAYAS USED IN VITILIGO DISORDER

Harsahay Meena*, Hemant Kumar Pandey, Mohd. Nasim and Madhu Bala

ABSTRACT

Antioxidants are the compounds which terminate the attack of free radicals or highly reactive oxygen species and reduce the risk of diseases. Antioxidants also have important role in pathophysiology of vitiligo. Psoralea corylifolia, Ammi majus and Mucuna puriens are most important medicinal plants for the treatment of vitiligo and psoriasis disorders. This study was designed to determine the antioxidant properties in methanolic extract of dried powder of Psoralea corylifolia, Ammi majus and Mucuna puriens. The antioxidant activity of the above mentioned plants was evaluated by measuring reducing ability, free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide methods. The antioxidants compounds like total phenols, tannins and ascorbic acid were also determined to correlate with their antioxidant activity. Some plants exhibited significant differences (P<0.05) in their antioxidant values. The methanolic extract of seed powder of Psoralea corylifolia exhibited higher antioxidant activity as compared to seed powders of Ammi majus and Mucuna puriens medicinal plants. The contents of antioxidant compounds viz. ascorbic acid and total phenols were also found higher in Psoralea corylifolia. Where as, total tannins contents was found higher in Mucuna puriens. It can be concluded from the study that regular use of Psoralea corylifolia seed powder can be beneficial in the treatment of vitiligo as well as neurological disorders associated with free radical damage. Keeping in view its high antioxidant property, this plant can also be used alone or in combination in the form of different herbal formulations to protect the body from deleterious effects of free radicals.

Keywords: DPPH, FRSA, antioxidant activity, hydrogen peroxide, reducing ability.