Abstract
Myriostacya wightiana is a perennial mangrove grass belongs to Poaceae family, occurs in India, Bangladesh and extending to Myanmar, Malaysia and Vietnam. Due to more salinity in its habitat Myriostacya wightiana possess high antioxidant potential. The present study evaluates the phytochemicals, antioxidants and free radical scavenging activities of the Myriostacya wightiana leaf extracts. Specific extraction and estimation methods were used to quantify the phytochemicals and antioxidants. The results of in vitro studies were analysed with Mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) obtained from three independent experiments. Among the phytochemicals flavonoids were found in more concentration. i.e., 416±8.2mg/gm. highest enzymatic antioxidant activity was showed by catalase (32.7±1.555 U/mg protein) whereas lowest activity was showed by peroxidase. Carotenoids occupies the major proportion among the non enzymatic antioxidant i.e., 90.16±0 mg/g and ascorbate has least. Leaf extracts of Myriostacya wightiana shows highest percent of scavenging activity with superoxide radicals (80±6.4%). The present study revealed that Myriostacya wightiana had valuable phytochemicals, antioxidants such as enzymatic and non enzymatic which prevents oxidative damage. Because of these properties Myriostacya wightiana is referred as rich medicinal source.
