Abstract

Antioxidant activity of Plumbago zeylanica and Plumbago rosea belonging to family plumbaginaceae

Author(s): Gayatri Nahak,Rajani Kanta Sahu

Plumbago zeylanica (Chitraka) is a perennial herbs found throughout India. The root is used as laxative, expectorant, astringent, abortifacient and dysentery. Plumbago rosea (Lal chitraka) have plumbagin and napthoquinone which is highly antitumour and anticarcinogenic in animal studies. Few reports are available on Plumbago rosea which is a very important medicinal plant. In this study we have attempted to investigate the antioxidant activity and phenol content in the root extract in a comparative manner by DPPH and OH- radical scavenging assay. In both the extracts ethanolic solvent gave maximum crude extract, phenol content and antioxidant activity. Highest antioxidant activity was demonstrated in Plumbago rosea (82.34%) in comparison to Plumbago zeylanica (74.65%) at 200µg/ml in DPPH assay. Similarly in OH- radical assay ethanolic extract of Plumbago rosea at 200µg/ml demonstrated highest activity in comparision to Plumbago zeylanica. The total phenolic content of Plumbago rosea root extract is 235µg/gm in comparison to 204µg/ gm in Plumbago zeylanica which indicates regarding the higher antioxidant activity in Plumbago rosea. The unexplored medicinal plant Plumbago rosea need more attention for detailed scientific investigation.