Abstract

IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS AND SOLVENTS EXTRACTS OF GYMNEMA SYLVESTER

Dilip G. Kadam*, Nitin D. Deshmukh, Rahul R. Shelke

ABSTRACT

Antioxidants play an important role in inhibiting and scavenging free radicals, thus, providing protection to human body against infection and degenerative diseases. Nowadays the modern research is directed towards “Natural antioxidants” from the herbal plants due to their safe therapeutic usage. In present studies, antioxidant activity of aqueous and solvent extracts of commercially available powder of Gymnema sylvester was investigated for its free radical scavenging activity by adopting various in vitro methods. The powder extracts were investigated for the antioxidant activity using 2,2,-diphenyl, 1- picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, reducing capacity,competition with DMSO, Hydroxyl group reducing activity, estimation of total phenol and estimation of Ascorbic acid. The results showed the plant extract exhibited significant DPPH scavenging activity, reducing capacity, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The polar flavonoid extracted was found to have highest % of DPPH scavenging activity. The measurement of total phenolics indicated that 10 gm. of powdered plant material contained 0.55 g of phenols equivalent of catechol. The results suggest that the Gymnema sylvester plant possess antioxidant activity and can be used as potential natural herbal therapeutic agent for human beings.

Keywords: Antioxidant, free radicals, Gymnema sylvester.