ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE HIMALAYAN REGION

Natural medicines and nutraceuticals are good sources of anti-oxidant and are gaining popularity for their capacity to enhance, health-protective effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-oxidant activity of some natural medicine from the Himalayan region of   Nepal. Carefully collected plant materials were subjected to maceration with methanol for about 48 hours. Anti-oxidant activity of methanolic extracts was assessed using DPPH as a free radical in different concentrations (0. 1 µg/ml, 1 µg/ml, 10µg/ml, 100µg/ml). Percent inhibition and effective Concentration (EC₅₀) values were calculated. EC₅₀ of Acacia catechu (0.89µg/ml), Cissus repens (3.44µg/ml) Psidium guajava (3.65µg/ml) were calculated and found to be more effective than ascorbic acid (4.48µg/ml). Drynaria propinque (5.21µg/ml) Eskemukerjea megacarpum (5.24µg/ml) and Nelumbo nucifera (6.76µg/ml) were comparable to standard anti-oxidants whereas Ficus relifiosa, Tinospora sinensis, Elaeocarpus sphaericus, and Cannavis sativa showed poor free radical-scavenging activity. Our results revealed that Acacia catechu (resin) showed greater anti-oxidant activity than other extracts and standard, suggesting that it could be the better anti-oxidant and diseases preventive remedies and should be developed as a future pharmaceutical or nutraceutical.