Evaluation of In vitro Antioxidant Activity of Aeschynomene indica

Background: A number of Indian medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years in the traditional system of medicine. Methods: The whole plant of Aeschynomene indica was successively extracted using soxhlet apparatus with solvents as petroleum ether (600C-800C), chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate and ethanol. The antioxidant activity was studied by using 2,2-diphenyl-p-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and free radical scavenging activity by hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. Results and Discussion: The extracts showed various yields, the ethyl acetate and ethanolic extract yields are 12.64% and 14.08% respectively. The TLC based qualitative analysis showed the presence of flavonoids of and phenolic compounds. The flavonoids from the ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts have showed good responses towards antioxidant activity comparing with the other remaining extarcts. Conclusion: The IC50 for ethyl acetate and ethanolic exracts were found to be 66.108±0.402 and 108.28±0.621 ìg/ml respectively in DPPH method. The IC50 for ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts were found to be1255.16±0.362 and 177.01±0.462ìg/ml respectively in Hydrogen Peroxide method.