Abstract

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TOTAL PHENOLIC, TOTAL FLAVANOID AND ANTIOXIDANT ASSAYS OF AQUEOUS AND DMSO EXTRACT FROM LEAVES OF ORIGANUM VULGARE

Nayan K. Jain* and Namrata Bhagia

ABSTRACT

In this study, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, radical scavenging activity and antioxidant power of aqueous and DMSO extracts of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) leaves by spectrophotometric method. The total phenolic content ranged from 28.48 to 98.86 mg /g of dry/fresh weight, expressed as Gallic acid equivalents. The flavonoid concentrations varied from 14.45 to 19.53 mg/g of dry/fresh weight, expressed as Quercitin. Radical scavenging activity of extracts against DPPH radicals inhibition ranged from 1.90% to 92.02%. and IC50 values were expressed in μg/ml. The antioxidant power assay activity ranged from 18.63 to 673.67 μg/ml of extract, expressed in ascorbic acid equivalents. Aqueous extract of fresh leaves showed highest phenolic content, flavonoid content, DPPH radical inhibition and strong antioxidant activity. Also positive correlation was attained between radical scavenging and antioxidant power as well as radical scavenging and total phenolic content. So, aqueous extract of fresh oregano leaves can be considered as having high natural antioxidant activity amongst plant sources.

Keywords: Origanum vulgare L., Antioxidant power, DPPH, phenols, flavonoids.