Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity in Different Parts of Costus igneus

Recently there is upsurge of interest in therapeutic potential of plants as antioxidants, reducing free radical induced tissue injury. Cancer, cardiovascuclar diseases, diabetes, age related muscular degeneration implicate oxidative stress are some of the common health issues, among them diabetes has serious consequences and limited treatment. Antioxidants prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals interfering with oxidative process, chelating catalytic metals and act as oxygen scavengers. Present study focuses on antioxidant evaluation of Costus igneus commonly known as insulin plant which is efficient and effective herbal drug possessing various pharmacological activities such as hypolipidemic, diuretic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancerous. Pharmacological work was carried out on Costus igneus leaves but pharmacological potential of other plant parts requires exploration. The present study aims at evaluation of antioxidant activity in methanolic extract of leaves, rhizome and stem of Costus igneus. Present study revealed that among the tested samples, rhizome showed max antioxidant activity an average of 89% when compared to leaf 72% and stem 55%. Total phenolic content found to be maximum in rhizome with 0.453?0.011 and flavonoid content was 0.123 ? 0.017. High percentage of antioxidant activity in rhizome might be due to the phenolic contents present in it.