In vitro antioxidant potential and radical scavenging activity of polyherbal drug Shrishadi

Abstract

Divya K. Kajaria, Mayank Gangwar, Amit K. Sharma, Yamini B. Tripathi,Jyoti S. Tripathi, Shrikant Tiwari

Free radicals are atoms or molecules or ions with one or more unpaired electrons on an open shell configuration. This electron imbalance causes high reactivity creating other free radicals by chain reactions. This will lead to tissue damage and oxidative stress. Aim of the present study was to identify antioxidant potential of the polyherbal formulation Shrishadi as a safe and inexpensive antioxidant. The plants Albizzia lebbeck, Cyprus rotundus and Solanum xanthocarpum (ingredients of Shrishadi compound) were extensively used in ayurvedic medicine and were investigated together in the form of a polyherbal compound. Hydroalchololic extract was prepared from the plant samples and was tested for total reducing power and in vitro antioxidant activity; evaluated by 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) + assay, superoxide anion scavenging activity assay and lipid peroxidation assay. Reducing power showed dosedependent increase in concentration maximum absorption of 0.716 ± 0.015 at 0.8 mg/ml; ABTS+ assay showed maximum inhibition of 82.27 ± 2.69 with EC50 462.72 ± 4.56; superoxide free radicals showed maximum scavenging activity of 68.54 ± 1.78 with EC50 658.51 ± 6.24; antilipid-peroxidation free radical scavenges maximum absorption of 72.91 ± 1.68 with EC50 640.75 ± 4.45. As flavonoids are the major constituents responsible for antioxidant activity, free radicals such as superoxide anions and lipid peroxides were scavenged in a concentrationdependent manner suggesting the probable role of the polyherbal formulation to be a good source for antioxidant activity.