PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AQUA ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF SOLANUM NIGRUM LEAVES

Solanum nigrum is a well know traditional medicinal plant used for the treatment of jaundice, asthma and ulcers and tuberculosis. It is an herbaceous annual weed. In the present study, we demonstrated the free radical scavenging activity of the aqua alcohol extracted leaf extract of Solanum nigrum. Crude aqua alcohol extract of Solanum nigrum leaves showed in vitro free radical scavenging activity in dose response manner. In vitro free radical scavenging activity of aqua alcohol extract of Solanum nigrum leaves was studied against DPPH, Hydroxyl, lipid peroxide, Super oxide anion, nitric oxide free radicals and reducing power. The results showed that Solanum nigrum plant possesses excellent free radical scavenging activity and significantly higher than the synthetic antioxidants. To conclude this investigation, aqua alcohol extract of Solanum nigrum leaves exhibit a good free radical scavenging activity and might be an alternate to synthetic antioxidants and they acts as potential therapeutic agents. Keywords: Solanum nigrum, Antioxidant, Medicinal plants