Ferrous Ion Chelating Activity (FICA)–  A Comparative Antioxidant Activity  Evaluation of Extracts of Eleven Naturally  Growing Plants of Gujarat, India

Riddhi M. Patel

Volume : II, Issue : VIII, August - 2013

Ferrous Ion Chelating Activity (FICA)– A Comparative Antioxidant Activity Evaluation of Extracts of Eleven Naturally Growing Plants of Gujarat, India

Riddhi M. Patel

Abstract :

Plant based natural antioxidant phyto-chemicals are capable of exerting antioxidant effect by quenching various free radical species. Routinely used synthetic antioxidants in many products, medicines and as food preservative agent, impose long term harmful effects. Hence in the present investigation, considering the bio-safe and highly significant therapeutic role of antioxidant phyto-chemicals, an effort was made to test the antioxidant capacity from certain commonly found and naturally growing plants of Gujarat and to assess their natural defense system. A comparative evaluation of different solvent extracts was made to find the effective FICA fraction from selected plants. Plant extracts were prepared using polar to non-polar solvents like water, methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether. Study demonstrated an excellent FICA antioxidant activity from all the selected plants. A good amount of % FICA was observed in Polyalthia longifolia petroleum ether extract, followed by aqueous extract of Calotropis procera and Lantana camara, and Cassia tora methanol extract.