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Abstract
Oxygen free radicals induce damage due to peroxidation to biomembranes and also to
DNA, which lead to tissue damage, thus cause occurrence of a number of diseases. Antioxidants
neutralise the effect of free radicals through different ways and may prevent the body from various
diseases. Antioxidants may be synthetic or natural. Synthetic antioxidants such as butylated
hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) have recently been reported to be
dangerous for human health. Thus, the search for effective, non-toxic natural compounds with
antioxidative activity has been intensified in recent years. The present review includes a brief
account of research reports on plants with antioxidant potential.
Keywords: Reactive oxygen species, Antioxidant, Free radicals, Oxidative stress, Natural
antioxidants.
IPC code; Int. cl.7
Introduction
About 5% or more of the inhaled
oxygen (O2) is converted to reactive oxygen
species (ROS) such as O2, H2O2, and OH
by univalent reduction of O 2(ref.1).
Antioxidants can act by scavenging reactive
oxygen species (SOD removing O2), by
inhibiting their formation (e.g. by
blocking activation of phagocytes), by
binding transition metal ions and
preventing formation of OH and/or
decomposition of lipid hydroperoxides,
by repairing damage (e.g. -tocopherol
repairing peroxyl radicals and so
terminating the chain reaction of lipid
peroxidation) or by any combination of
the above2.
In nature there are a wide
variety of naturally occurring antioxidants
which are different in their composition,
physical and chemical properties,
mechanisms and site of action3. Some of
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Review Article
antioxidants. SOD mainly acts by
quenching of superoxide (O2), catalase
by catalyzing the decomposition of
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to water and
oxygen. Glutathione peroxidase is a
selenium containing enzyme which
catalyses the reduction of H2O2 and lipid
hydroperoxide, generated during lipid
peroxidation, to water using reduced
glutathione as substrate. Selenium and
vitamin E both appear to be necessary for
Cuscuta reflexa
Psoralea corylifolia
Picrorrhiza kurroa
Tinospora cordifolia
Ginkgo biloba
Review Article
proteases, DNA repair enzymes,
transferase, methionine sulphoxide
reductase, etc14.
In Ayurveda formulation of some
rasayanas with well defined antioxidant
properties has been done16, 17. Rasayanas
are a group of non-toxic polyherbal drug
preparation, which are immunostimulatory
and thereby prevent the causation of
disease18 and promote health and longevity19.
It is reported that when the
balance between ROS production and
antioxidant defenses is lost, oxidative
Botanical/
Family
name
Common/
English
name
Part used
Chemical
Constituents
Biological
Activities
1.
Curcuma
domestica
Valeton syn.
C. longa Linn.
Zingiberaceae
Turmeric
Leaf
Curcumin, -pinene,
camphene, eugenol,
-sitosterol
2.
Cuscuta reflexa
Roxb.
Convolvulaceae
Akashabela
Stem
Flavonoids, dulcitol,
bergenin, coumarins,
glycosides, lactone
Expectorant, carminative,
anthelmintic, purgative, diuretic,
in jaundice, in bilious disorders,
antifertility drug.
3.
Daucus carota
Linn./Apiaceae
Carrot
Root
Carotenes, carotenoids,
glycosides, flavonoids,
sugars, quaternary bases
4.
Emblica
officinalis
Gaertn. syn.
Phyllanthus
emblica Linn.
Euphorbiaceae
Amla/Emblic
Myrobalan
Fruit
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic
acid), polyphenols
(ellagic acid, gallic
acid, tannins)
5.
Foeniculum
vulgare Mill.
Apiaceae
Saunf
Fennel
Fruit oil
328
Review Article
S. No.
Botanical/
Family
name
Common/
English
name
Part used
Chemical
Constituents
Biological
Activities
Glycyrrhiza
glabra Linn.
Fabaceae
Mulethi
Liquorice
Root
Glycyrrhizin, flavonoids,
liquiritin, isoliquiritin,
rhamnoliquiritin,
2-methylisoflavones
Diuretic, emmenagogue, in
vomiting, asthma, bronchitis, in
acute conjunctivitis, for curing
wounds, in peptic ulcer.
7.
Mangifera
indica Linn.
Anacardiaceae
Am
Mango
Root,
Leaf, Fruit
Cyanogenetic glycosides,
polyphenols, vitamin A &
C, mangiferin, -sitosterol,
quercetin, ellagic acid,
gallic acid
8.
Momordica
charantia
Linn.
Cucurbitaceae
Karela
Bitter Melon
Root, Leaf,
Fruit, Seed
9.
Ocimum
sanctum
Linn.
Tulsi
Sacred Basil
Leaf
Expectorant, in catarrh,
bronchitis, ringworm and other
cutaneous diseases, stomachic,
Lamiaceae
10.
Psoralea
corylifolia
Linn.
Fabaceae
Babchi
Seed
11.
Santalum
album Linn.
Santalaceae
Safedchandan
Sandal
Heartwood,
Bark
Volatile oil
Santalol, -santalol,
-santalol, -sitosterol
329
Review Article
S. No.
Botanical/
Family
name
Common/
English
name
Part used
Chemical
Constituents
Biological
Activities
12.
Solanum
nigrum Linn.
Solanaceae
Makoi/Common
Nightshade
Leaf
Polyphenolic
compounds,
flavonoids,
steroids
13.
Swertia
chirayita
(Roxb. ex
Flem.) Karst.
Gentianaceae
Chirayita
Chiretta
Whole plant
Xanthones, mangiferin,
swertinin, chiratin,
arginine
14.
Withania
somnifera
Dunal
Solanaceae
Ashwagandha
Root, Leaf,
Seed
Steroidal lactone,
withanolides, glycene,
withanine
Family
Part used
1.
Liliaceae
Bulb
2.
Liliaceae
Shoot
3.
Asteraceae
Aerial parts
4.
Cucurbitaceae
Root
5.
Asteraceae
Leaf
6.
Lauraceae
Bark
7.
Apiaceae
Essential oil
8.
Asteraceae
Leaf
9.
Asteraceae
Leaf
10.
Myrtaceae
Leaf
11.
Eucommiaceae
Leaf
12.
Clusiaceae
Fruit
13.
Ginkgoaceae
Leaf
14.
Lamiaceae
Aerial parts
15.
Solanaceae
Fruit
16.
Lamiaceae
Aerial parts
330
Review Article
S. No.
Family
Part used
17.
Rutaceae
Leaf
18.
Myricaceae
Fruit
19.
Araliaceae
Root
20.
Scrophulariaceae
Rhizome, Root
21.
Piperaceae
Fruit
22.
Plantaginaceae
Seed
23.
Rosaceae
Fruit
24.
Apocyanaceae
Leaf
25.
Lamiaceae
Aerial parts
26.
Lamiaceae
Aerial parts
27.
Lamiaceae
Leaf
28.
Solanaceae
Fruit
29.
Solanaceae
Tuber
30.
Myrtaceae
Flower buds
31.
Lamiaceae
Aerial parts
32.
Menispermaceae
Root
33.
Rubiaceae
Bark
34.
Zingiberaceae
Rhizome
Conclusion
The imbalance between reactive
oxygen species and antioxidant defense
systems may increase the oxidative burden
and lead to the damage of macromolecules
such as DNA, carbohydrates or proteins.
Such processes are thought to play a role
in pathological processes of various
diseases. Plants having vitamins (C, E,
carotenoids, etc.), flavonoids (flavones,
isoflavones, flavonones, anthocyanins and
catechins), polyphenols (ellagic acid,
gallic acid and tannins) possess
Vol 5(4) July-August 2006
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Review Article
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