Abstract

The increasing interest in powerful biological activity of plant phenolics and flavonoids outlined the necessity of determining their contents present in Cassia auriculata Linn. Antioxidant activities through biochemical assays [DPPH- radical scavenging activity, reducing power, inhibition of lipid peroxidation (TBARS)] were evaluated spectrophotometrically from 1 mg/ ml of crude extract. Interestingly, IC₅₀ values for scavenging activity (0.7 μg/mL) and reducing activity (0.51 μg/mL) and lipid peroxidation (0.6 μg/mL) of the flower extract had significant effect comparatively. Two known compounds (Kaempferol and Quercetin) identified by GC-MS in flower extract, indicating its preventive role against free radical effect.

Key words: Antioxidant activity, Cassia auriculata Linn, free radicals, peroxidation inhibition, phenolics, scavenging effects.