In Vitro Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Alstonia scholaris Linn. R.Br.

The present work is carried out to study the antioxidant potential of ethanolic extract of Alstonia scholaris Linn. ( Apocynaceae ) using various in vitro tests including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH . ) free radical scavenging, metal ion chelating, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, and ferric thiocyanate reducing ability. Ethanolic extract of Alstonia scholaris had significant ( p <0.01) (DPPH . ) free radical scavenging (63%), metal ion chelating (74.88%), hydrogen peroxide scavenging (72.28%), superoxide anion radical scavenging (67.66%) and significant ( p <0.05) ferric thiocyanate reducing activities. These various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), l- ascorbic acid and a -tocopherol. These results indicate that ethanolic extract of Alstonia scholaris Linn. possess antioxidant property. The results observed were comparable to antioxidant properties of BHA, BHT, l- ascorbic acid and a -tocopherol.