ABSTRACT:
Free radicals are capable of damaging molecules in cell membrane, mitochondria, DNA etc. Cell damage caused by free radicals appears to be a major contributor to aging and degenerative disease such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cataract, liver diseases, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, renal failure, etc. Naturally there is a dynamic equilibrium between the free radicals produced in the body and antioxidants that scavenge them to protect the body against deleterious effects. The amount of antioxidants present under normal physiological conditions may be insufficient to neutralize free radicals generated. Therefore, it is obvious to enrich our diet with antioxidants to protect against harmful diseases. Hence there has been an increased interest in the food industry and in preventive medicine in the development of “Natural antioxidant” from plant material. Considering the significance of antioxidant activity, crude extract from leaves of Buchanania lanzan Spreng. belonging to family Anacardiaceae was prepared in ethanol and evaluated for its radical scavenging activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Radical Scavenging Assay, Nitric Oxide Radical Inhibition Assay, Reducing Power Assay and H2O2 Radical Scavenging Assay. The antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract was studied in comparison with the standard ascorbic acid. The extract showed significant free radical scavenging activity as compared to ascorbic acid. The antioxidant activity observed in the present investigation might be due the presence of phenolics and flavonoids.