A comparative study on the antioxidant activity of Cassia sophera (L.) leaf and bark extracts

摘要

Background: Cassia sophera (L.), or kasundi, is an?important?plant in traditional medicinal system?belonging?to?family?caesalpiniaceae. The leaves extract of this plant is known for various pharmacological activities including, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, purgative property etc. Objectives: The objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare the antioxidant potential of methanolic leaf and stem bark extracts of C. sophera (L.). Methods: We measured and compared antioxidant potential by using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging, ferric reducing power antioxidant capacity and total antioxidant capacity assay; and through determination of total phenol and flavonoid content determination. Results: Preliminary phytochemical study revealed the presence of alkaloid, glycoside, tannin, saponin and flavonoid in both extracts. The extracts showed moderate antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, the ICsub50/sub value of the leaf and bark extracts was 204.44 μg/ml and 297.37 μg/ml, respectively, whereas ICsub50/sub value for the reference ascorbic acid was 19.08 μg/ml. Furthermore, both the extracts showed moderate antioxidant activity in Ferric reducing power and Total antioxidant capacity assay. In addition, the bark extract exhibited higher amount of flavonoid and phenolic content compared to the leaf extract, which were expressed as Quercetin and Gallic Acid equivalent respectively. Conclusion: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that both the extracts possesses equitable antioxidant potential of which methanolic stem bark extract of C. sophera is more promising one and possess higher antioxidant potential.