Uday Chand Basak

The study was aimed to determine antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of both leaf and root of 12 nos. of therapeutically used mangrove species of Odisha coast using different antioxidant assays i.e., DPPH, FRAP and ‘Reducing Power’. Significantly higher DPPH radical scavenging effect was observed in leaf extracts of Heritierafomes (IC50=13µg/ml). However, in root extract, the activity was higher in Rhizophoraapiculata (IC50=17µg/ml). As far as total antioxidant content is concerned, Avicennia marina showed highest content i.e94.16±5.36 mg AEAC/g dry wt.in leaf sample and87.33±0 mg AEAC/g dry wt. in root sample. The highest FRAP value (4.75±0.08 mM AAE/g dry wt.)  in leaf samples was found in Cerberamanghas. Whereas, highest FRAP value (5.19±0.40 mM AAE/g dry wt.) in root extract was noted in Cynometrairipa. As regard to reducing power, Kandeliacandel showed highest activity e.g.,3.49±0.08 mg AAE/g dry wt. in leaf extracts among the studied species. In root extract, Aglaiacucullata exhibited highest reducing activity (3.35±0.01 mg AAE/g dry wt.). This study revealed that H. fomes, R. apiculata, A. marina, C. manghas, C. iripaand K. candelwere found to be good sources of natural antioxidants for pharmaceutical utilization.

Embelin is the principal phytoconstituent of Embelia tsjeriam-cottam A. DC., commonly known as Baibidanga, belonging to the family Myrsinaceae. Embelin, obtained from E. tsjeriam-cottam (an alternative source to E. ribes),is having diverse biological activities and used as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer and antioxidant. Fruit-samples of E. tsjeriam-cottam were collected from five different geographical locations of Odisha. These fruits were extracted and assessed for embelin content through spectrophotometric and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods utilizing different solvent systems. Significant variation in embelin content was observed among the samples. Embelin content in fruits of E. tsjeriam-cottam was ranged from 4.93 to 2.1% (dry wt.), when extracted with chloroform and 4.88 to 1.03% (dry wt.), when extracted with methanol. However, in case of HPLC analysis, embelin content in the selected fruits were varied from 2.72 to 1.32% (dry wt.), when extracted with chloroform and 1.75 to 0.5% (dry wt.), when extracted with methanol. In general, embelin content was found higher in the fruits collected from Chura Reserve Forest (AG3) followed by Sulia Reserve Forest (AG4), Bargarh (AG1), Ghana Reserve Forest (AG5) and Jajpur (AG2). Among the selected solvent systems, chloroform prevailed to be the excellent solvent for extraction of embelin.