COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON THE IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF METHANOLIC LEAFY EXTRACTS FROM SIX EDIBLE LEAFY VEGETABLES OF INDIA

Objective: Antioxidants are vital substances which possess the ability to protect the body from damage caused by free radical induced oxidative stress. Epidemiological studies specify that intake of fruits and vegetables have the ability to inhibit the damaging behavior of free radicals in the human body. In this study, we assessed antioxidative properties of the methanolic extracts of Mentha arvensis, Moringa oleifera, Spinacia oleracea, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Tamarindus indica, and Amaranthus viridis. Methods: The methanolic extracts were studied for phytochemical screening and antioxidant properties by different in-vitro experiments including DPPH radical assay, ABTS radical assay, Total antioxidant assay, Reducing activity assay for ascorbic acid equivalents, Total Phenolic content for gallic acid equivalents and Total flavonoid content for quercetin equivalent. Results: The present study revealed that Mentha arvensis extract exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 28 µg/ml), Reducing activity (1.731±0.072), Total antioxidant activity (208 µg/ml expressed as ascorbic acid equivalents), Total phenolic content (75 µg/ml expressed as gallic acid equivalents) and Total flavonoid contents (674 µg/ml expressed as quercetin equivalents) and Tamarindus indica extract showed highest ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 35 µg/ml), The results obtained in the present study indicate that the leaves of Mentha arvensis showed potential antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. Conclusion: The results obtained in the present study indicate that leaves of Mentha arvensis, Moringa oleifera plant materials have potent, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Tamarindus indica have moderate and Amaranthus viridis, Spinacia oleracea have mild antioxidant activity and/or free radical scavenging activity. Key words: Leafy vegetables, Methanolic extracts, In-vitro antioxidant activit