Nishadh*, V. Selvi, R. Mahalakshmi
The free radical scavenging potential of the leaves of Vernonia cinerea was studied by using different solvents i.e. Methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether, benzene, acetone, ethylaceteate chloroform and Aqueous extracts. Preliminary phytochemical analysis reveals the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids, triterpenoids, glycosides, and phenolic constituents. In vitro antioxidant potential of leaves were evaluated by DPPH reduction and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity. The extracts exhibited IC50 values of 25.14 ± 1.23, 31.18 ± 1.08, 212.60 ± 3.03, 92.46 ± 2.79, 45.20 ± 3.92, 79.17 ± 1.05, 98.54 ± 2.87, and 128.38 ± 1.65 μg/ml, Ascorbic acid, which was used as a standard, showed an IC50 of 74.12μg/ml respectively in DPPH. 32.25 ± 01.12, 31.87 ± 01.04, 89.26 ± 04.62, 65.45 ± 03.20, 61.82 ± 01.23, 78.10 ± 03.08, 67.40 ± 01.33 and 71.18 ± 02.86 μg/ml, ascorbic acid, the standard, showed an IC50 of 28.41μg/ml, respectively in nitric oxide inhibition assays. These observations confirm that different extract of Vernonia cinerea leaves have quantitatively different constituent and outline its importance toward antioxidant activity.
