Antioxidant profile in north eastern India: traditional herbs

Abstract

Purpose

This study is designed to determine the antioxidant profile of the crude aqueous and organic (Ethyl acetate) extract of 11 plants. These plants are mainly distributed in north eastern (NE) zones of India. Extracts of the aerial and/or underground parts have been applied in traditional medicine for the treatment of different diseases hence they have gained sufficient importance in alternate medicinal therapy.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activities of extracts NE in vitro systems to gain mechanistic insights.

Findings

Results from antioxidant assays together with authentic antioxidant standards revealed that aqueous extract (AqEx) showed strong superoxide radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and ferrous ion‐chelating ability. The ranges of total phenolic contents was determined and found from 2.0860 to 7.1193 in aqueous extract and 1.7716 to 5.4330 mg (GAEq/100 g) in ethylacetate extract. The results revealed that total flavonoid contents in the selected plant from NE and the range of the extract varied from 0.1769 to 1.6990 mg (QEq/100 g), respectively.

Originality/value

The present study focuses on the antioxidant activity of 11 extracts of Indian origin. The plant extracts are also screened for flavonoid contents and total phenolics.

Citation

Srivastava, J. and Vankar, P.S. (2012), "Antioxidant profile in north eastern India: traditional herbs", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 42 No. 1, pp. 26-33. https://doi.org/10.1108/00346651211196500