Studies on Antioxidant Activity of Polyscias fruticosa Harms. (Araliaceae)

ABSTRACT

Extracts from roots and leaves of Polyscias fruticosa Harms. (Araliaceae) and their combination have been studied on lipid peroxidation in mouse brain using an auto-oxidation and a free radical generating system the Fenton’s reagent (ferrous iron + hydrogen peroxide). All the root, leaf and combined extracts have inhibitory action on peroxidation of lipids and trolox, a water-soluble analogue of vitamin E used as a reference antioxidant compound. The results also indicate that the leaf extract is the strongest of all.