Free radical scavenging potential of root extracts of Syzygium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston

Medicinal plants are commonly used in treating or preventing specific ailments or diseases are considered to play a beneficial role in health care. Therefore, the study of plants as a resource of medicine has become more important in the present world for preventing the human beings from oxidative stress diseases and deaths. Objective of the present study is to evaluate the effects of acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of Syzygium caryophyllatum roots for its antioxidant activity. Using different in vitro models like DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay in a concentration dependent manner (500, 400, 300, 200 and 100 mg/ml) and ABTS radical scavenging activity. The results showed that the methanol root extract had high DPPH radical scavenging activity (62.33%) and ferric reducing capacity than the other extracts. But the results were less when compared to the standard used. The results of this research work indicate the utilization of the root extract of S. caryophyllatum as a significant source of natural antioxidants.