In Vitro Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Methanol Extracts of Some Selected Medicinal Plants of Nepal

Antioxidant potential of phenolic content from methanol extracts of fifteen selected medicinal plants of Nepal were analyzed by using 1,1-Diphenyl-2- Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, reducing power and total antioxidant capacity. Out of them Acacia catechu, Berberis aristata, Bauhinia variegata, Cleistocalyx operculatus, Shorea robusta, Bergenia ciliata, Phyllanthus emblica, Bombax ceiba, Lyonia ovalifolia, Bridelia retusa, Drymaria diandra, Euphorbia hirta, Callicarpa sp., Ziziphus mauritiana, and Scoparia dulcis showed potent antioxidant activity as compared with the IC50 value of the reference standard ascorbic acid. The total phenolic content was measured to be 95.80±3.6 mg GAE/gm in Ziziphus mauritiana and 169.35±0.2 mg GAE/gm in Acacia catechu. The total flavonoid content was measured to be 10.70±0.0 mg QE/ gm in Callicarpa sp. and 18.6±0.3 mg QE/gm in Acacia catechu. This study indicated medicinal plants in Nepal have strong antioxidant potential with high total phenolic and flavonoids content. The methanol extract of these plants may be a potent source of natural antioxidant and its use in the management of diseases associated with oxidative stress is justified. This study may provide the scientific basis for traditional use of those plants and may provide valuable information for further research.