In vitro antiradical properties and total phenolic contents in methanol extract/fractions from bark of Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken

This study was aimed at evaluating the free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract and fractions from the bark of Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken by employing various well-established in vitro systems such as 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), deoxyribose degradation (non-site specific and site specific), reducing power, chelating power, and plasmid nicking assays. Total Phenol Content of the extracts was determined by the assay based on Folin-Ciocalteu’s method. In all the assays, it was observed that the residue fraction, left after the precipitation, was more effective in scavenging the free radicals than the aqueous extract and precipitates. The higher activity of residue fraction may be attributed to the greater amount of phenolic content present in it (942.4 mg/g GAE) as compared to precipitates and aqueous extract. The extract and fractions were found to possess potent antiradical properties, which may be due to either direct scavenging of free radicals or through metal chelation.