Evaluation of antioxidant potential of alcoholic stem bark extracts of Bauhinia variegata Linn.

Abstract

The present study was carried out for the evaluation of in-vitro antioxidant potential of alcoholic stem bark (ALSB) extract of Bauhinia variegata Linn. Dried stem bark extract of B. variegata Linn. was screened to evaluate its free radical scavenging effect. Various methods like DPPH assay, reducing power assay, percentage scavenging activity of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical scavenging activity were used for screening in-vitro antioxidant potential. Antioxidant potentials were concentration dependent which were compared with standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and ascorbic acid. The maximum scavenging effect of B. variegata Linn. alcoholic stem bark extract on DPPH free radical, superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide was 72.19 + 0.20, 81.60 + 0.22 and 76.06 + 0.16 respectively at a concentration of 2500 ?g/mL. It was clearly indicated that the alcoholic extract of the stem bark has significant in vitro antioxidant activity. Currently available synthetic antioxidants like butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT), Ascorbic acid and gallic acid appear to be associated with hepatotoxicity and many others negative health effects. Therefore, natural antioxidants may be preferred over the synthetic antioxidants.

Biological and Chemical Insights of Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Bark: A Source of Bioactive Compounds with Functional Properties

“…The strongest antioxidant activity is recorded for BBE2, where the strongest amount of phenols was recorded. Many bark extracts have been evaluated for their antioxidant capacities, commonly associated to their content of phenolic compounds [28,29,30]. Beech bark contains some of biologically active components, such as catechin, epicatechin, syringic acid, vanillic acid etc., indicating that the antioxidant activity of the extracts can be at least partially ascribed to these bio-components (Table 4).…”