SCREENING FOR ANTIOXIDANT AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING POTENTIAL OF EXTRACTS OF LEAVES AND FLOWERS OF Calotropis gigantea

Abstract

Calotropis gigantea L, belonging to family: Asclepiadaceae is also known as Sweat akand, is used in traditional medicine for treatment of various ailments. The surface microscopy of leaf was performed along with powder microscopy. Leaf and flower extracts of Calotropis gigantea were prepared by using various solvents like Acetone, Chloroform and Methanol in increasing polarity. The reference drug used was Silymarin. Antioxidant activity was studied by DPPH method.The level of percentage inhibition was found to be more in the Methanolic extract(64%). Since no such work has been investigated and reported in detail earlier, therefore an effort has been made to explore the antioxidant activity in this plant.