EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF TRACHYSPERMUM AMMI L. SPRAGUE

Abstract

Phytochemicals are very good source of antioxidants. Natural antioxidants are more effective and they have no side effects of them. Due to the deficiency of antioxidants many diseases are caused e.g. skin diseases and internal diseases. The drugs although cure the problem but with a lot of side effects. Herbal treatment shall be used instead of drugs. Therefore present investigation was done to explore antioxidant potential of Trachyspermum ammi L. Sprague. Experimental design for this study was split Block RCBD (Randomized complete block design). The plant was extracted by the cold maceration method in both polar and non-polar solvents i.e. petroleum ether, methanol, distilled water and chloroform in a series of 30%, 50%, 70% and 100% v/v concentrations. Antioxidant evaluation was done through DPPH Radical Scavenging Assay and Total Phenolic Content (TPC) Assay. Among all the extracts of T. ammi, 30% petroleum ether conc. v/v i.e. 0.66±0.02d was nearest to the DPPH activity of the standard BHT. Hence, the concentration of 30% Petroleum ether extract was highly active antioxidant. 70% distilled water concentration i.e. 0.33±0.01d showed the least DPPH activity. While maximum percentage scavenging activity was showed by 100% chloroform extract i.e. 88±1a which was equal to the DPPH activity of α-tocopherol, 88%. While least activity was showed by 100% methanolic extract i.e. 24.8±0.1c. Whereas, highest TPC value was showed by 30% distilled water extract i.e. 156±2a and the least TPC value was showed by 70% petroleum ether i.e. 0.17±1.15b.The extracts showing the best results can be recommended as best antioxidant agents.