PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS AND HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF BACOPA MONNIERI LINN.

The present study was undertaken to investigate in-vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract of whole plant of Bacopa monnieri Linn. Family- Scrophularaceae. The  total  Phenolic content  was  determined  using folin  ciocalteau method while the total  flavonoid  content was determined using  aluminium  chloride  method. In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using the Reducing power assay, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, nitric oxide scavenging activity, superoxide scavenging activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The hydroalcoholic extract had more phenol concentration (116.1 mg/g of extract) when compared to aqueous extract (58 mg/g of extract). The flavonoid content was more in hydroalcoholic extract (242.6 mg/g of extract) when compared to that of aqueous extract (202.8 mg/g of extract). The reducing power and hydrogen peroxide scavenging of the extract was found to be concentration dependent. The nitric oxide scavenging activity, superoxide scavenging activity and Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity  was also concentration  dependent with IC₅₀ value  being 254.70  µg/ml ,  934.06  µg/ml  and  510.60 µg/ml respectively for Aqueous extract and 169.22 µg/ml, 495.83 µg/ml, 488 µg/ml respectively  for hydroalcoholic  extract. The order of the antioxidant potency of the whole plant extract is Hydroalcoholic >> aqueous. The results clearly indicate that  aqueous  and hydroalcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri has anti oxidant  property which  may be  due  to  the  presence  of  phenols  and  flavonoids.