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  flavanoid  content was  determined  using  aluminum  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 flavanoid  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  flavanoids.

Key words: Bacopa Monnieri,Superoxide Scavenging Activity,Hydroxyl Radical Scavenging Activity,Hydrogen Peroxide Scavenging Activity .