IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF HYDRO ALCOHOLIC LEAVES EXTRACT OF ROTULA AQUATICA LOUR

The present study aimed to evaluate the In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of hydro alcoholic extract of leaves of Rotula aquatica Lour.The antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed by ferric reducing power assay, superoxide radical scavenging assay and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assay using ascorbic acid as the standard. Anti-inflammatory activity of the extract was evaluated using HRBC membrane stabilization method and protein denaturation method where diclofenac sodium was used as the standard. The results indicated that the hydro alcoholic extract showed significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in a dose-dependent manner. The extract demonstrated potent scavenging of free radicals such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide and possessed high reducing power against the standard ascorbic acid. Potent inhibition of HRBC membrane lysis and protein denaturation proved its anti-inflammatory activity when compared to standard diclofenac sodium. The finding powerfully supports that Rotula aquatica Lour leaves extract could be used as a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent attributed to its rich secondary metabollites.