In vitro antioxidant activity and preliminary photochemical analysis of medicinal legumes

The methanolic exts. of leaves of Humbolditia brunonis, Caesalpinia mimosoides, Derris scandens traditionally used in traditional medicines were screened for antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities using ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT) as stds. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by using di-Ph picryl hydrazyl free radical (DPPH), phospho molybdenum total antioxidant assay, reducing power assay and hydrogen peroxide assay. Preliminary phytochem. anal. of methanolic exts. of these plants indicated the presence of tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, anthraquinones and phlobatonins. All these legumes showed antioxidant properties with greater activity being found in Humbolditia brunonis. The present result suggest that leaves ext. of these legumes could be the potential sources of natural antioxidant that could be of great importance for the treatment of radical related and age assocd. diseases. [on SciFinder(R)]