FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF POLYGALA CHINENSIS LINN.

Abstract

Summary The purpose of this work comprises the assessment of free radical scavenging activity of alcoholic extract of Polygala chinensis Linn. (Polygalaceae) by different analytical methods like 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, nitric oxide scavenging assay and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. The alcoholic extract of Polygala chinensis showed concentration dependent free radical scavenging activity in all models. IC50 was found to be 56.09 µg/ml, 47.63 µg/ml and 41.003 µg/ml in DPPH assay, NO radical scavenging assay and H2O2 scavenging assay respectively. Total phenolic content and total flavonoids were evaluated according to Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and colorimetric method respectively which revealed a high amount of polyphenols (88.2±9.3 mg/100gm) as well as flavonoids 36.7±3.9 mg/100gm, suggesting a possible role of these compounds in the antioxidant properties.