ANALYSIS OF ROOT EXTRACTS OF Polycarpaea aurea IN VARIOUS ORGANIC SOLVENTS FOR THEIR TOTAL POLYPHENOLIC CONTENT, TOTAL FLAVONOID CONTENT, AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY

Many plant species varieties belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae are extensively used by several ethnic communities as traditional medicines throughout the world. The ethno-pharmacological studies of the plant species belonging to this family possess antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Other assets reported are inhibition of prostatic enlargement in rats, cerebro-protective activity and anti-obesity activity in rats. The most important property of plants of this family is anti-cancer activity and is exhibited by the large number of plant species analysed. The anti-oxidant capacity of root extracts in various organic solvents viz. acetone, methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and hexane was studied by quantifying 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picryihydrazyl (DPPH), Nitric-Oxide (NO) free radical scavenging activities, it’ s ferric reducing power (FRAP) as well as it’s Total Polyphenolic Content (TPC) and Total flavonoid content (TFC). The acetone extract had high yields of TPC and TFC with values (552.8±5.2) mgGAE/g and (270.6±6.2) mgQE/g and showed comparatively better anti-oxidant activity and the antioxidant activity in DPPH and NO assays (IC50 = 75.92±1.4 and 100.64 ± 1.8 μg/mL respectively). These results suggest that P. aurea root could function as a new source of antioxidants that could act as an aid in preventing oxidative stress.