Evaluation of in vivo antioxidant potential of (L.) Alston and Roxb. towards oxidative stress response in .

Excessive production and restricted elimination of free radicals like superoxide, hydroxyl radical (OH), anion radical (O ), and non-radical hydrogen peroxide (HO) are related to the development of cancer, arteriosclerosis, arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases. According to a report of World Health Organisation, about 80% of the population living in the developing countries predominantly depends on the traditional medicine for their primary healthcare. Plants possess innate ability to synthesize a wide variety of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants capable of attenuating ROS-induced oxidative damage. The ethanolic leaf extracts of L. and Roxb. exhibited a significant in vitro antioxidant activity when compared with natural antioxidant, ascorbic acid. The extracts also provided strong cellular protection against the damaging effects of HO induced oxidative stress in the mutant strains ( and ) of . The GC-MS analysis of the leaf extracts revealed the presence of phytoconstituents majorly constituting of terpenes, vitamin and fatty acids contributing to the antioxidant property. The plant extracts may serve as a potential source of exogenous antioxidants to combat the undesirable effects of oxidative stress.