COMPARATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIOXIDANT STUDIES ON ROOTS OF STEREOSPERMUM COLAIS & STEREOSPERMUM SUAVEOLENS

Aim: Stereospermum colais (SC) and Stereospermum suaveolens (SS) are known as “Patala” has a sound traditional and rational background in Ayurvedic system of Medicine. There is no investigation regarding the antioxidant potential of both the plants. So the aim of this study is to screen and compare the antioxidant effect by in vitro methods using various extracts of the roots of Stereospermum colais and Stereospermum suaveolens. Materials & Methods: Successive extracts of the roots of SC and SS were prepared and used for the phytochemical screening and invitro antioxidant study. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using 1,1- Diphenyl -2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide radical scavenging methods. Results & conclusion: The roots of SC and SS showed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, glycosides, phenols, tannins, carbohydrates, saponins, proteins and aminoacids. The results revealed that the extracts showed a concentration dependent free radical scavenging activity compared to the standard ascorbic acid and curcumin. The ethanolic extract showed maximum activity among all the extracts in both the methods. The antioxidant potential is higher in SS compared to SC in both the methods.