A Comparative Study on Antioxidant Properties of Two Phyllanthus Species Growing in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT: A comparative study of antioxidant properties on two varieties of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus niruiri L. & Phyllanthus urinaria L. leaves) growing in Bangladesh was done in the present study. Five complimentary test methods namely DPPH free radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents determination were used for the evaluation of antioxidant properties of two species of Phyllanthus. In the present investigation for the evaluation of antioxidant activities the concentration is expressed by the ratio of crude sample per solvent volume instead of extract weight per solvent volume. Based on these concentrations the investigated P. niruri L. and P. urinaria L. leaves extracts exhibited significant results. At 2 mg/ml concentration DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the methanol extract of both the plants was found to show significant (>90%) activity which is comparable to Ascorbic acid and BHA. In case of reducing power tests for both the extract, the activity of P. urinaria is comparable to that of BHA and AA and that of P. niruiri is comparable to BHA. P. niruiri showed better antioxidant potential than that of P. urinaria based on the observed results of their corresponding methanol extract