Antioxidant Activity of Gemmo Therapeutically Treated Indiginous Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the antioxidant potential of gemmomodified and commonly used parts of medicinal plants. Four medicinally important plants including Terminalia arjuna, Euphorbia tirucalli, Trigonella foenum and Cyperus rotundus were selected. Methanolic extracts of commonly used parts like bark of Terminalia arjuna seed of Trigonella foenum, rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus and whole plant of Euphorbia tirucalli were used for evaluation of antioxidant potential. In addition to the conventional use of medicinal plants, a newly emerging way of therapy, the gemmotherapy (gemmomodificaion) has also been included in this study. Gemmotherapy is a therapeutic method, where plant bud extracts and other young tissues freshly harvested from living growing plants are used. The determination of total polyphenols of both native and gemmomodified extracts was carried out by Folin-Ciocalteu method. The ability of extracts to neutralize the free radicals was measured using standard DPPH•, ABTS•+, NO• and O₂ ^– radical scavenging assays. The ability of extracts to inhibit the lipid per-oxidation was evaluated through ammonium thiocyanate assay. The reducing potential of medicinal plants was also evaluated. The total polyphenolic contents in gemmomodified extract Terminalia arjuna was comparable to its bark extracts. Non-significant difference was found in amount of polyphenols in both gemmomodified and whole plant extracts of Euphorbia tirucalli. Gemmomodified extract of Trigonella foenum found higher polyphenolic contents than seed extracts. Whereas in case of Cyperus rotundus less polyphenolics was identified in gemmomodified extract as compared to rhizome extract. Gemmomodified extracts of Terminalia arjuna, Trigonella foenum and plant Euphorbia tirucalli showed higher antioxidant potential than their commonly used parts.