Abstract

The present study was envisaged to assess the rationality for the use of traditionally invogue herb Organum vulgare as an anti-oxidant agent. Potential antioxidative activity of O. vulgare was evaluated using various in vitro methods including post mitochondrial supernatant (PMS) and microsomal lipid peroxidation, DNA sugar damage, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and FTC/TBA methods. Both ethanolic and aqueous extracts exhibited good antioxidant and radical scavenging properties but the effects were pronounced in ethanolic extracts of O. vulgare. The extracts strongly inhibited DNA damage. The extracts showed significantly remarkable scavenging effects in DPPH free radical scavenging assay and the activity indicated a marked correlation with phenolic content. From the results the extracts (that is, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of O. vulgare might be valuable antioxidative sources.

Key words: Antioxidant, radical scavenging, Organum vulgare, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH).