EVALUATION OF THE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF FICUS RACEMOSA PLANT EXTRACTS OF LEAVES AND BARKS

Divyash Singh*, Amresh Gupta and Ravindra Pal Singh

ABSTRACT

Present investigation is an attempt to evaluate antioxidants potential of leaves and stem bark of Ficus racemosa (Moraceae), an important medicinal plant in the Indian system of medicine. Research on antioxidant activity is an important topic in the medical sector as well as in the food industry due to the fact that, antioxidants play a major part in inhibiting and scavenging free radicals, thus providing protection to human against infections and degenerative diseases. It reduces cell damages caused by free-radical which are responsible for various ailments like ageing, cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative disorders, atherosclerosis, cataracts and inflammation. Methanolic extract was prepared from the leaf and stem bark of Ficus racemosa. Their total phenolics and free radical scavenging capacity was determined using folin-ciocalteu reagent (FCR) assay and DPPD-radical scavenging assay respectively. Stem bark and leaves of F. racemosa contains 239.73 and 229.37 mg of GAE / gm of dried extract of phenolics respectively. Current studies also show that Ficus racemosa barks contain a high antioxidant activity. IC50 value of bark extract was found to be 19μg/ml which is even better that of the standard BHT. Therefore, present studies suggest that F. racemosa bark has a huge potential in terms of commercial use as source of antioxidant.

Keywords: Ficus Racemosa, Plant Extract, Phenolic Content, Antioxidant.