Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF FEW SIDDHA HERBAL DRUGS

V. Elango* and D. Eazhisai Vallabi

ABSTRACT

Antioxidant compounds are exogenous or endogenous in nature which either prevent the generation of toxic oxidants, intercept any that are generated and inactivate them and thereby block the chain propagation reaction produced by these oxidants. In this study ethanolic extract of four traditionally used Indian medicinal plants were screened for their antioxidant property using ascorbic acid as standard antioxidants. The standard ascorbic acid is a reducing agent and can reduce, and thereby neutralize, reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide. The overall antioxidant activity of Ipomoea Carnea was the strongest, followed in descending order by Acasia mearnsii, Canna indica, Delonix elata. The activities expressed as percentage of inhibition.

Keywords: antioxidants, ascorbic acid, DPPH.