Comparative Study of Antioxidant Properties in Indigenous Medicinal Plants of South India

The increasing interest in natural antioxidants has brought renewed focus to indigenous medicinal plants traditionally used across South India. These plants are rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, tannins, and terpenoids, which contribute to their antioxidant potential. This review presents a comparative analysis of antioxidant properties of selected South Indian medicinal plants including Phyllanthus emblica, Withania somnifera, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Centella asiatica, Moringa oleifera, and Terminalia chebula. The study evaluates and contrasts the phytochemical profiles, antioxidant assays (such as DPPH, FRAP, ABTS), and traditional uses of these plants based on recent literature. Special emphasis is given to the correlation between traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge and validated pharmacological outcomes. Furthermore, the bioavailability and potential synergistic effects of the phytoconstituents are discussed. The findings highlight the relevance of these indigenous species as promising sources of natural antioxidants for therapeutic and nutraceutical applications. The review also identifies research gaps related to clinical validations, standardization of extracts, and conservation needs of these plant species.