Antioxidant potential and total phenolic content of Leucas aspera of Sonitpur district, Assam

Abstract

Antioxidants are capable of inhibiting oxidative reactions which produces free radicals in the body responsible for various diseases. In current decade, attention is being given on plants having antioxidant property to replace syn- thetic antioxidants. Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link (Lamiaceae), a wild edible vegetable was analyzed to determine antioxidant property of methanolic leaf extract by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and IC₅₀ was calcu- lated by plotting nonlinear regression curve. The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu’s method using gallic acid as standard. L. aspera exhibit potent antioxidant property with IC₅₀ value 54.78µg/ml. Total phenolic content was found to be 45.30 ± 0.64 mg GAE/g dry extract. L. aspera which is consumed as com- mon vegetable in Sonitpur district of Assam (India) are potent source of antioxidants and can be recommended as healthy vegetable.