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

The present  study  was  undertaken  to  investigate  in vitro  antioxidant  activity  of   aqueous  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  phenol concentration of aqueous extract ( 58 mg/g of extract ). The flavanoid  content  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.  .  The results  clearly  indicate that  aqueous  extract  of   Bacopa monnieri  has anti oxidant  property which  may be  due  to  the  presence  of  phenols  and  flavanoids.

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