IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF DALBERGIA SISSOO (ROXB.)

Abstract

Oxidative stress is the state of imbalance between the level of antioxidant defense system and production of reactive oxygen species . Antioxidants are an ancillary defense against oxidative stress. Natural antioxidants s uch as polyphenols and flavonoids present in the plants scavenge harmful free radicals from our body. The aim of the present study was to determi ne total phenolic content and in - vitro antioxidant activity in methanolic and eth a nolic leaf extract of Dalbergia sissoo known for its medicinal properties in folk medicine . Th e antioxidant activity was evaluated by 1, 1 - diphenyl 2 - picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The Antioxi dant activity was compared with ascorbic ac id as standard antioxidant. Quantitative analysis of antioxidative components like total phenolic con tent was determined by spectrophotometric method and expres sed in gallic acid equivalent . The ethanol extract had the highest tot al phenolic content followed by methanol. The ethanolic crude extracts showed very promising antioxidant activity compared with methanolic extract. The EC 50 value for eth anolic extract was found to be 1 06. 3 μg/ml . The total phenolic content was found out to be 0.185±1.87mg/gm GAE . The findings of the present study suggested that polyphenols present in Dalbergia sissoo extract may be responsible for the antioxidant activity. Dalbergia sissoo (Roxb. ) could be a potential natural source of antioxidants and could have greater importance as therapeutic agent in preventing or slowing oxidative stress related degenerative diseases. Further investigations need to be carried out to isolate antioxidant compounds present in the plant extract and evaluate in vivo antioxidant activity.