EVALUATION OF THE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT FROM SARACA ASOCA FLOWER
Sourav Verma, Najmus Sehar, B. K. Dubey
ABSTRACT
The antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract from Saraca asoca flowers was evaluated using in vitro methods to assess its potential as a natural antioxidant. The extract was obtained with a yield of 8.6%, and preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive compounds including flavonoids, phenols, saponins, proteins, and diterpenes. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, where the aqueous extract exhibited dose-dependent free radical scavenging activity. The IC50 value of the aqueous extract was found to be 98.94 µg/ml, which was higher than that of ascorbic acid (21.30 µg/ml), indicating that the extract has moderate antioxidant potential. These findings suggest that Saraca asoca flowers could serve as a valuable natural source of antioxidants, which may be useful in the prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases.
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