Author(s):

Anusuya Devi R, S Arumugam, K Thenmozhi and B Veena

Abstract: Medicinal plants are imperative for the treatment of various human diseases. Elaeocarpus is a genus belonging to the family, Elaeocarpaceae. In Indian traditional system of medicine, different parts of rudraksha were taken for the alleviation of various health related problems such as mental disorders, headache, skin diseases and for healing wounds. The present study was undertaken to address phytochemical and in vitro antioxidant potential for the medicinal plant species, Elaeocarpus munronii and Elaeocarpus tuberculatus. Quantification of phytochemicals for various solvent systems viz., petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous extracts and plant parts viz., leaf, stem, flower and fruit for the two medicinal plant species, E. munronii and E. tuberculatus were analyzed. Antioxidant and free radical scavenging potential in terms of DPPH, ABTS^.+, reducing power, ferrous ion and superoxide radical scavenging activity were assessed using standard procedures. From the results obtained, the ethanolic leaf extracts of both the plant species of Elaeocarpus encompass significant activity. However, E. munronii determine appreciable activities than E. tuberculatus with excellent reputation in traditional Indian system of medicine. Furthermore studies are however required to elucidate their mechanism of action using molecular techniques.

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