CHARACTERIZATION OF THEPESIA POPULNEA (LINN.) FOR ITS INVITRO ANTI OXIDANT ACTIVITY

*Anju A. Varghese, Prasanth V. V. and Jimmy Alex

ABSTRACT

The anti-oxidative properties of flavonoids are due to several different mechanisms, such as scavenging of free radicals, chelation of metal ions, such as iron and copper, and inhibition of enzymes responsible for free radical generation. Depending on their structure, flavonoids are able to scavenge practically all known ROS. Oxygen consumption inherent in cell growth leads to the generation of a series of reactive oxygen species (ROS). They are continuously produced by the body’s normal use of oxygen such as respiration and some cell-mediated immune functions. ROS include free radicals such as superoxide anion radicals (O2), hydroxyl radicals (OH) and non-free radical species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and singlet oxygen (1O2). ROS are continuously produced during normal physiologic events and can easily initiate the peroxidation of membrane lipids, leading to the accumulation of lipid peroxides. ROS are also capable of damaging crucial biomolecules such as nucleic acids, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates and may cause DNA damage that can lead to mutations. If ROS are not effectively scavenged by cellular constituents, they lead to disease conditions. ROS have been implicated in more than 100 diseases. The in-vitro anti oxidant activity is determined by NITRO OXIDE ACAVENGING METHOD.

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