Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic contents in hydrophilic extracts of selected Bangladeshi medicinal plants

Objective: To evaluate hydrophilic extracts from edible portions of fifteen plants for total phenolic content (TP) and anti-oxidant capacity (AC) as an effort to find possible sources for future novel antioxidants. Methods: Folin Ciocalteau and DPPH radical scavenging assays were employed to determine TPC and AC, respectively. Reults: Among the assayed plants, TPC (mean +/- SD), expressed as gallic acid equivalent, varied from 0.04 +/- 0.01 (Amaranthus spinosus) to 6.01 +/- 0.04 (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) mg gallic acid equivalent/g fresh weight. AC (mean SD), expressed as trolox equivalent, ranged from 0.14 +/- 0.00 (Alternanthera philoxeroides) to 7.54 +/- 0.00 (Zaralioxylum rhetsa) mu mol trolox equivalent/g fresh weight. A significant and positive linear relationship (R-2=0.99( was observed between TPC and AC of Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Oxalis corytnbosa, and Alternanthera sessilis. Conclusions: The results of the present study implies that the analyzed plants possess varying degree of antioxidant capacity and, therefore, the antioxidant potency of these underused plants may be utilized to prevent oxidative damage and oxidative stress related disorders.