DPPH free radical scavenging activity of some Bangladeshi medicinal plants.

Barringtonia acutangula (Local name-Hijal, Kumia etc.), Erythrina variegata (Local name- Mandar) and Sida cordifolia (Local name- Brela, Bala etc.) are traditionally employed to cure various disorders. The crude extracts of these three traditionally used medicinal plants available in Bangladesh were tested for their potential antioxidant activity against the stable DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) free radical. Ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Barringtonia acutangula and Erythrina variegata showed potential antioxidant activity (IC50:1 g/ml) against DPPH free radical whereas their ethanolic bark extracts and ethanolic root extract of Sida cordifolia showed moderate to mild activity.