IN VITRO EVALUATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES AND HYDROXYL RADICAL SCAVENGING EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OF CYPERUS ROTUNDUS L. AND RUBIA CORDIFOLIA L.: PROTECTION AGAINST PHOTODAMAGES

Abstract

An antioxidant is simply a molecule that prevent s another molecule from oxidizing. Overexposure to UV rays can lead to a significant reduction in the antioxidant supply, thus increasing oxidative stress. Herbal plants and their secondary metabolites have a long history to use in modern western medicine and in certain systems of traditional medicine and are the sources of important drugs. The antioxidant compounds, which are p resent in herbal plants in the form of secondary metabolites like phenolic acids, poly phenols and flavonoids scavenge free radical s such as peroxide and hydroperoxide. This study is aimed to investigate the secondary metabolites and antioxidant pot ential of ethanolic and acetone extracts of Cyp e rus rotundus L. and pet roleum ether and 80 % ethanolic extracts of Rubia cordifolia L. usi ng in vitro models in the reference of protection against photo damages. Different extracts of Cyp e rus rotundus L. and Rubia cordifolia L. were evaluated for their organoleptic properties, physicochemical properties, preliminary secondary metabolites analy sis and hydroxyl radical scavenging potential with the help of standard procedures . B oth extracts of Cyp e rus rotundus L. and Rubia cordifolia L. were found to be positive for many secondary metabolites like; flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins etc. Th e IC 50 values of ethanolic and acetonic extracts of Cyperus rotundus were observed at 87 µg/ml and 98.2 µg/ml respectively and the IC 50 values of pet ether and 80 % ethanolic extracts of Rubia cordifolia were observed at 100 µg/ml and 50 µg/ml respectively . Based on this , it may be concluded that, the herbal plants Cyp e rus rotundus L. and Rubia cordifolia L. are the rich source of secondary metabolites and have hydroxyl/free radical scavenging potential which shows antioxidant nature of the extracts against UV induced oxidative stress mediated photo damages.