Abstract
Antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of three widely used medicinal herbs Hypericum perforatum, Bacopa monnieri, Camellia sinensis and their combinations was evaluated and compared. Hydroalcoholic extract was prepared by subjecting plant material to soxhlet extraction. Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed to check the presence of major phytochemical constituents of each plant. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and nitric oxide scavenging assay. Our study reveals that Camellia sinensis possesses more antioxidant activity than other extracts, when compared with individual plant. Our results also suggest that different combination of all these herbs at equal proportion at same doses as in individual plant showed synergistic antioxidant activity. Thus lower doses of mixture of herb may be used in place of individual higher dose to minimize side effects.
