EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF Leonotis Nepetifolia (L) R.Br.

The selected plant extract produced concentration dependent percentage inhibition of antioxidant activity. The ethanolic extract of Leonotis nepetifolia showed low activity on hydroxyl and DPPH radical and moderate effect on nitric oxide radical. The results of the present study suggest that the tested ethanolic extract have antioxidant activity and/or free radical scavenging activity. Preliminary phytochemical studies of the extract shows the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds therefore the antioxidant activity might be due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in the selected plant extract. More detailed studies on chemical composition of the plant extract as well as other in vitro assays are essential to characterize them as biological antioxidants in further studies.