EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF RHIZOME EXTRACTS OF TWO SPECIES OF ALPINIA ROXB. (ZINGIBERACEAE)

Abstract

Objective of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts of the rhizomes of A. smithiae and A. vittata. Both the extracts exhibited their scavenging effects in a concentration dependent manner. The assays were carried out against superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide radical and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Superoxide as well as hydroxyl radical scavenging activities and inhibition of lipid peroxidation was found to be more with A. smithiae extract while that of A. vittata was found to be more effective in scavenging nitric oxide radicals. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the rhizome extracts of both the species studied can be a potential source of natural antioxidants.