In vitro Antioxidant Activity of Vitex negundo L. Leaf Extracts

In the present study, Vitex negundo L. leaf extracts were screened for their phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity. The yield of phytochemicals is in the order of ethanol extract > methanol extract > benzene extract > chloroform extract > hexane extract > ethyl acetate extract > petroleum extract. Finally we have selected ethanol extract for the antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content was estimated as gallic acid equivalents (249.96 +/- 8.34 mg/g of extract) and total flavonoids estimated as catechin equivalents (166.67 +/- 9.14 mg/g of extract). Free radical scavenging activity was determined by DPPH assay (79.82 +/- 2.99% at 500 mu g/ml concentration). Total antioxidant capacity of the extract (214.81 +/- 4.07 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g) was determined. Ferrous chelating ability was found to be 84.15 +/- 1.65% at 500 mu g/ml concentration and reductive ability of the extract was found to be 918 +/- 0.035 absorbance unit at 600 mu g/ml concentration. The antioxidant activity of Vitex negundo L. is mainly due to the presence of the phenolic compounds like, flavonoids and flavonols.