Original Articles
T. Shri Vijaya Kirubha, M. Jeg
Abstract
Various studies have been done to identify antioxidants from plant sources and efforts have been taken to incorporate it in conventional therapy. In our present study, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Desmodium gangeticum ( one of the main ingredients of famous Ayurvedic preparations-Dasamularistha, Dashmoola ark, Dashmoola taila, etc.,) and its substituent Pseudarthria viscida roots ( used in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines namely Dashamoola, Mahanarayana taila and Dhantara taila) have been evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging, Nitric Oxide scavenging activity and reducing power assay methods. Ascorbic acid (100 μg/ml) was used as standard antioxidant. All the analysis was made with the use of UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The results of the assay showed that the extracts of Desmodium gangeticum and Pseudarthria viscida roots possess significant free radical scavenging and reducing power properties. Hence, it can be concluded that the Desmodium gangeticum and Pseudarthria viscida roots could be pharmaceutically exploited for antioxidant properties.