Evaluation of Plectranthus amboinicus Leaf Extract for Free Radical Scavenging Activity – An In Vitro Approach

Plectranthus amboinicus is an herb which possesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer and antiepileptic properties and used as a traditional medicine in Southern parts of India. The study is intended to assess the antioxidant potential of the methanolic extracts of Plectranthus amboinicus leaves using different radical scavenging assays namely DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide at different concentrations (20-100 μg/ml). The results signified that the methanolic extract exhibited increased scavenging activity in the above tested assays in a dose dependent manner. Hence, Plectranthus amboinicus offers persuasive antioxidant components which might lead to the exclusion of Reactive Oxygen Species mediated ailments by scavenging free radicals or preventing the oxidation of biomolecules.