Publication

Abstract : Our study was aimed at screening of antioxidant activity and the (components) present in the plant which is responsible for the antioxidant activity. Methanolic extract of roots of Desmostachya bipinnata was evaluated for phytochemical parameters. The total phenolic content was determined using folin-ciocalteu assay. The content of total flavonoids was also measured spectrophotometrically by using aluminium chloride colorimetric assay and the content of tannins was determined by Folin-Denis method. The scavenging activity on superoxide, ABTS+ and the reducing power was determined. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation was studied by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method on isolated goat liver tissues. The plant showed moderate anti-lipid peroxidation against thiobarbituric acid (69.422±0.7148%). The extract exhibited scavenging activity towards superoxide and ABTS+ radicals (IC50 64.66 and 93.64 µg/ml) due to the presence of relatively high total phenol and flavonoids contents (25.62 ± 0.10 and 150.88±12.61µg/ml respectively). Our findings suggest that Desmostachya bipinnata. is endowed with antioxidant phytochemicals and could serve as a base for future drugs.