PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES AND EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDATIVE PROPERTIES OF DRYNARIA QUERCIFOLIA (L.) J.SMITH

Free radicals are responsible for many oxidative stress related diseases. Antioxidants are those substances capable of scavenging free radicals and in recent years, antioxidants of plant origin are gaining interest globally. Ferns are an interesting group of plants, many of which still remain unexplored in the area of phytochemical properties. Thus, the present study was carried out to quantify the phytochemicals and evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of fertile fronds of Drynaria quercifolia, a common fern growing in this region. Methanolic (MeOH), ethanolic (EtOH) and hot water (HW) extracts were used for determination of antioxidative activity. Results revealed the presence of phenol, flavonoid, vitamin C and E in the sample. MeOH extract showed higher antioxidative activity in comparison to the EtOH and HW extract in dose-dependent manner. However, DPPH was seen to be scavenged slightly better by HW extract. From the overall data it can be concluded that methanolic extract (MeOH) of Drynaria quercifolia could be one of the potential source of natural antioxidant for the treatment of free-radical and age related diseases.