IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF PIPER BETEL

The Piper betel is an evergreen and perennial creeper belonging to the Piperaceae family, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkin. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties. The total phenolic content of methanolic leaves extract was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu assay method, and was found to be 0.110 mg/CE/g (Catechine Equivalent per gram). However, antioxidant activity of methanolic leaves extract of Piper betel was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging method. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of methanolic extract of Piper betel was found to be highest at 100 mu l concentration which was 25.2%. Nevertheless, % DPPH scavenging activity of standard ascorbic acid at same concentration was found to be 40%. The % DPPH scavenging activity increases with the increasing concentration. The concentration of Piper betel needed for 50% inhibition (IC50) was found to be 282.31 mu g/ml whereas 369.19 mu g/ml needed for ascorbic acid.