STUDY OF WHOLE PLANT OF VERNONIA CINEREA LESS. FOR IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

Edison Dalmeida Daffodil, Packia Lincy, Veerabahu Ramasamy Mohan*

In vitro antioxidant activity of petroleum ether, benzene, ethyl acetate, methanol and ethanol extracts of whole plant of Vernonia cinerea Less. have been tested using various antioxidant model system viz, DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide, ABTS and reducing power. Methanol extract of V. cinerea is found to possess higher DPPH radical scavenging activity. Petroleum ether extract of V. cinerea exhibited highest hydroxyl, superoxide and ABTS radical cation scavenging activity. Petroleum ether extract of V. cinerea showed the highest reducing ability. This study indicates significant free radical scavenging potential of V. cinerea which can be exploited for the treatment of various free radical mediated ailments.