IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF NITRIC OXIDE SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF SYZYGIUM CUMINI LINN. BARK (MYRTACEAE)

Plants have provided mankind with herbal remedies for many diseases for many centuries and eventody. In India, herbal medicines have been the basis of treatment and cure for various diseases in traditional methods practiced such as Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha. Syzygium cumini Linn. (Myrtaceae) commonly known as jambul tree (English), having promising theraputic values with its various phytoconstituents. Preliminary Phytochemical investigation was carried out on the methanolic extract of  Syzygium cumini Linn. Bark. It indices presence of Carbohydrates, Amino acids, Tannins, Saponins, phytosterols, Terpenoids, phenols and flavonoids. We are also quantitatively estimated total phenolic content, tannins and favaniods by using spectrophotometer. The total phenolic content was 580.23 ± 3.03 mg/g, tannin content was 534 ± 4.03 mg/ g while the flavonoid content was 315.42 ± 4.52 mg/g. The methanolic and aqueous extracts of bark were screened for antioxidant activity using Nitric oxide scavenging activity method, which showed significant persentage of inhibition in dose dependent manner. As antioxidant therapy is found to be useful in complicated disease status related with free radical activity. This is the first research report regarding Invitro evaluation of Nitric oxide scavenging activity of Methanolic and aqueous extracts of Syzygium cumini bark. The present study might be extended for the formulation and evaluation of different antioxidant herbal dosage forms.