COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF CASSIA AURICULATA (LINN.) FLOWER, LEAF AND SEED METHANOLIC EXTRACTS

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant potential of the methanolic extract of flowers, leaves and seeds of Cassia auriculata (Linn.) along with the quantification of total phenolics and flavonoids content.Methods: The antioxidant activity of flowers, leaves and seeds of Cassia auriculata (Linn.) was assessed with the help of various in vitro antioxidant assay systems as 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, reducing power assay and Nitric oxide scavenging assay. For the determination of phenolic content the Folin Ciocalteu method and for flavonoids Aluminium Chloride spectrophotometric method was adopted.Results: The flowers, leaves and seeds methanolic extracts of Cassia auriculata (Linn.) were screened for different phyto chemicals present and the major antioxidants polyphenols and flavonoids were quantified. All the extracts showed significant antioxidant activity in all assays with the same trend as in total phenolics and flavonoids content. Flowers show most antioxidant activity in all assay systems due to higher phenolics and flavonoids content. That indicated the direct correlation among antioxidant potential, total phenolics and flavonoids content.Conclusion: The result implies that the Cassia auriculata (Linn.) plant parts especially flowers can be serving as natural sources of antioxidants and could be used in the treatment of diseases that have free-radical origin and as a substitute for synthetic drugs. Â

Steroidal Lactones from Withania somnifera, an Ancient Plant for Novel Medicine

Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, is an important medicinal plant that has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine for over 3,000 years. In view of its varied therapeutic potential, it has also been the subject of considerable modern scientific attention. The major chemical constituents of the Withania genus, the withanolides, are a group of naturally occurring C28-steroidal lactone triterpenoids built on an intact or rearranged ergostane framework, in which C-22 and C-26 are appropriately oxidized to form a six-membered lactone ring. In recent years, numerous pharmacological investigations have been carried out into the components of W. somnifera extracts. We present here an overview of the chemical structures of triterpenoid components and their biological activity, focusing on two novel activities, tumor inhibition and antiangiogenic properties of withaferin A and the effects of withanolide A on Alzheimer's disease. The most recent attempts in biotechnological production of withanolides are also discussed