In vitro antioxidant activity of methanolic leaves and barks extracts of four Litsea plants

As far as our literature survey could ascertain, a very few information were available on the in vitro antioxidant activities of the Litsea (Family: Lauraceae) plant. Therefore, the aim of this current investigation is to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant capacities of leaf and bark extracts of four Litsea spp. The antioxidant activity of Litsea extracts were evaluated by various antioxidant assays such as DPPH scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, superoxide scavenging, metal chelating activity and reducing power potency. Phytochemical screening and the total phenol and flavonoids content were also estimated. A positive correlation between the antioxidant activities and physiochemical assays was observed and the highest scavenging activity was noticed in bark of Litsea monopetala. Results obtained in the present investigation indicate clearly that the extracts of Litsea spp possesses significant antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavengers, acting possibly as primary antioxidants.

Author(s): Dibakar Choudhury, Mitali Ghosal, Abhaya Prasad Das and Palash Mandal*

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