ANTIOXIDANT SURVEY IN CERTAIN FOOD PLANTS

In vitro antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of leaves of Sauropus and Alternanthera were screened for their free radical scavenging properties using ascorbic acid as standard antioxidant. The free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl(DPPH) free radical and reducing power. The reducing ability of a compound generally depends on the presence of reductants which are antioxidative potentially, breaking the free radical chain, by donating a hydrogen atom. The DPPH and reducing power was increased with the increasing concentration. Both the plants are potential source of antioxidants of natural origin of which, Alternanthera has exhibited more antioxidant property.