Abstract
The study was designed to investigate the antioxidant activities of the methanolic extract of leaves of Begonia roxburghii by five different in vitro methods namely Folin-Ciocalteu, total flavonoid content, phosphomolybdenum, total reducing power determination, and DPPH scavenging activity. Phenol content (Gallic acid equivalent) was found as 180.40±0.03 mg/g of the dry sample by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Flavonoid assay method revealed the content of flavonoids (Quercetin equivalent) as 60.43±0.27 mg/g of the dry sample. Total antioxidant capacity of the extract was observed 243.43±0.11 mg/g ( ascorbic acid equivalent) by phosphomolybdenum method. Free radical scavenging activity (measured by the DPPH test) of the methanolic extract was found 158.36±0.22 μg/mL whereas ascorbic acid, the standard, showed 19.53±0.04 μg/mL. The methanolic extract of Begonia roxburghii leaves exhibited positive and linear dose dependent reducing power activity and its activity was comparable to the standard ascorbic acid for a given dose. Phytochemical screening of the extract showed positive results for alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, and tannins, which demonstrate definite pharmacological actions on human body. The extract showed negative results for the steroids.
 Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 9(1 & 2): 79-89, 2020 (June & December)
Highlights
The use of medicinal herb for curing diseases has been documented in the history o f medicinal science
The leaves were sent to the Bangladesh national herbarium for identification and confirmation and upon their confirmation that the collected leaves were of Begonia roxburghii, those were considered for methanolic extract preparation
The qualitative phytochemical screening was performed by the standard procedures (Tiwari et al, 2011) and the results have been presented in the (Table 1)
Summary
The use of medicinal herb for curing diseases has been documented in the history o f medicinal science. Men were completely dependent on medicinal herbs for prevention and treatment of diseases (Ghani, 2003). Scientists are thinking that about two-thirds of the world’s plant species have medicinal properties and almost all of these have antioxidant potential. These medicinal plants are being continuously screening by scientists for discovering novel drugs (Hossain, et al, 2018). Primary health care system is mostly dependent on these medicinal plants in Bangladesh. Plants have long been a source of exogenous (i.e. dietary) antioxidants (Ansari et al, 2017). Natural antioxidants have been allowed as preventive medicines for different diseases. Antioxidants can be synthesized in vivo (e.g. reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) etc.) or taken as dietary antioxidants (Halliwell, 2007; Sies, 1997)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
