ABSTRACT:
The present investigation deals with antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract of Celosia argentea aerial parts, fresh fruits of Fragaria vesca, Tamarindus indica, Psidium guajava, Zizyphus mauritiana. The effects of ethanolic extracts of all the herbs were studied via reducing power estimation method. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were compared with standard i.e., of ascorbic acid. The equal amount of extract and ascorbic acid combinations were also studied to understand the synergistic effect of ascorbic acid with the extracts if used in any pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. The individual antioxidant activity of Zizyphus mauritiana, Tamarindus indica, Psidium guajava, Fragaria vesca and Celosia argentea were found to be 20.35±0.12, 24.48±0.28, 15.63±0.48, 14.74±0.52%, 29.43±1.80 respectively indicating antioxidant activity to all ethanolic extracts. C. argentea exbiting the highest activity (p<0.05). The combined antioxidant activity (ascorbic acid with extracts) showed additive synergistic effect 61.65 ± 0.452, 198.52±0.645, 78.76±0.850, 58.99±0.740, 139.23±231 respectively with each extract compared to the standard. These studies suggest that the ethanolic extract of above herbs can significantly be used as natural antioxidants alone or in combination with ascorbic acid.