ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOL EXTRACT LEAVES OF CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS (LEMON GRASS)

Stalinjit Singh*, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and R.K Dhawan

ABSTRACT

Cymbopogon citartus family Myrtaceae also called Tea Tree oil. In traditional system of medicine the plant have various uses for aromatherapy, skin problems, inflammation hair care, stress reduce, and anxiety. Hence the present studies were designed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Cymbopogon citartus leaves. Antioxidant activity carried out using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ABTS(2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), NO (Nitric oxide) and SO (Super oxide) assay and phytochemical screening of the methanol leaves extract were carried out. The results shows that Cymbopogon citartus methanol extracts of leaves shows significant antioxidant activity which is higher when compared with ascorbic acid. In DPPH of IC50 value of methanol extract of leaves is 67.69 μg/ml. In superoxide assay IC50 value of methanol extract of leaves is 89.73 μg/ml ABTS assay shows the IC50 of methanolic extract of Cymbopogon citartus of leaves 51.70 μg/ml and, Nitric oxide assay shows IC50 of methanolic extract of Cymbopogon citartus of leaves is 56.11.The methanol extract of leaves shows the existence of various phytoconstituent such as terpenoids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and steroids. Thus the study suggest that methanol extract of Cymbopogon citartus leaves shows strong antioxidant activity might a possible source.

Keywords: Cymbopogon citartus, Myrtaceae, inflammation.