We report the free radical scavenging activity of an Ayurvedic preparation Panchvalkala and its individual components (stem bark of Ficus benghalensis, F. glomerata, F. religiosa, F. virens and Thespesia populnea). Being stem barks, these samples contain phenolics (ranging from 3.5% to 10.8% w/w) and tannins (1.6% to 7.0% w/w). This prompted us to study the free radical scavenging activity of Panchvalkala and its components which was evaluated in three in vitro models viz. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, superoxide radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay. Panchvalkala and its individual components showed significant antiradical activity by bleaching 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (EC50 ranging from 7.27 to 12.08 µg) which was comparable to pyrogallol (EC50 4.85 µg). Thin layer chromatography of the methanol extracts when sprayed with 0.2% 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl in methanol revealed several bands with antiradical activity as seen by bleaching of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. All the samples showed good superoxide scavenging potential (EC50 ranging from 41.55 to 73.56 µg) comparable to ascorbic acid (EC50 45.39 µg) in a dose-dependent manner. The reduction ability, Fe3+ to Fe2+ transformation was found to increase with increasing concentrations of all the sample extracts.
Bergia suffruticosa (Family Elatinaceae) is an important Indian medicinal plant, traditionally used to repair bones and applied on sores. The plant has not been studied much. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the plant showed the presence of high amount of phenolics, tannins and flavonoids. Subsequent quantification showed the presence of 8.8% w/w phenolics (calculated as gallic acid), and 7.5% w/w tannins. This high amount of tannins and phenolics prompted us to evaluate its antioxidant activity. We studied the antioxidant activity of B. suffruticosa whole plant in three in vitro models: DPPH radical scavenging activity, superoxide scavenging activity and measurement of reducing power. Methanolic extract of whole plant of B. suffruticosa showed a very good DPPH radical scavenging activity (EC 50 of 13.1 lg) and superoxide scavenging activity (EC 50 of 139.4 lg) in a dose-dependent manner. The extract showed dose-dependent reduction ability (Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ transformation) with a maximum absorbance of 1.195 at a concentration of 300 lg of the extract.
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