Investigating The Antioxidant Potential of Selected Medicinal Plant: A Comparative Study

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy. Plants are considerably useful and economically essential. They contain active constituents that are used in the treatment of many diseases. Plants are rich source of ecologically developed secondary metabolites, which are potential remedies for different ailments. Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa commonly known as Bael or Bilva belonging to the family Rutaceae has been widely used in indigenous systems of Indian medicine due to its various medicinal properties. Aegle marmelos (L.) tree is held sacred by Hindus and offered in prayers to deities Lord Shiva and Parvati and thus the tree is also known by the name Shiva duma (the tree of Shiva). The Bael tree has its origin from Eastern Ghats and Central India. It is Indigenous to Indian subcontinent and mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions. The tree is also found as a wild tree, in lower ranges of Himalayas up to an elevation of 500 meters. Bael is found growing along foothills of Himalayas, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and the Deccan Plateau and along the East coast.For centuries, the medicinal plants are the basis for treatment of various diseases. Nearly 80% of peoples living in developing countries still depend on plant based traditional medicine for their preliminary health care and almost three-fourths of the herbal drugs used worldwide is derived from medicinal plants. Medicinal plants are believed to be an important source of new chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects. arborea belonging to family Verbenaceae locally named as Gambhari (Oriya), Gambhar (Hindi), Gambhar (Bengali), Sriparni (Sanskrit) and Gummadi (Telgu). Bark light grey colored exfoliating in light colored patches when old, blaze thick, a chlorophyll layer just under the outer bark, pale yellow white inside. The yellow flower, tinged with brown, is trumpet shaped, 3-4 cm long. The trumpets flare open into a gaping mouth with 5 distinct lobes. The fruit is oval in shape, 3/4 inches in length and is yellow in color. The fruit taste sweet and astringent. Leaves are 4 to 9 inches in length and 2%2 inches in breadth. These are of heart shape; petioles are 2 to 6 inches in length. The wood is used planking, paneling, carriages, furniture, carpentry of all kinds, in Myanmar for carving images and canoes, match manufacture, packing cases, in all ornamental work, for making quality toys and picture frames. Therefore, this study is conducted to access antioxidant in vitro study activities of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea.

Drug Profile:

Aegle marmelos:

The Aegle marmelos (L.) tree, which is worshipped by Hindus and offered in the prayers of Lord Shiva and Parvati, is also known as Shivaduma (The Tree of Shiva). In India, Aegle marmelos L. is a plant that is readily accessible in many locations. Also called the “Bale fruit tree,” Bael (Aegle Marmelos (Linn)) is a moderately sized, slender, aromatic tree.

Habitat: The A. marmelos tree is mostly found in the foothills of the Himalayas, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar.

Use of Bael:

Leaves: The leaves are most effective in treating fever, nausea, vomiting, swellings, dysentery, dyspepsia, seminal weakness, and intermittent fever.

Root: The roots of bael are thought to be effective in treating urinary problems, preventing heart palpitations, and curing fevers. They are also said to relieve abdominal pain. The medical properties of dashamula lie in its root to treat fever, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Flower: An anti-dysenteric, antidiabetic, diaphorectic, and local anesthetic medication can be produced by distilling flowers. It is utilized as a tonic for the stomach and intestine. Along with being used as an expectorant, it is also helpful in epilepsy.

Figure 1: Plant of Aegle marmelos

Gmelina arborea:

Gmelina arborea is known as Kashmiri (as it grows in Kashmir), this tree is native to Asia and found in India, It is mostly found in deciduous and moist deciduous forests. Gambhari has many uses. It is a fast-growing tree from teak family. Gambhari is also a medicinal tree and its roots, stem, stem bark, fruits, leaves, flowers all are used for medicinal purpose in India since ancient times. Its mention is found in all classical texts of Ayurveda.

Vernacular Name: 

Gambhara (Hindi), Peggumudu (Telugu), Gambhari (Punjabi)

Medicinal uses:  

The root and bark of Gmelina arborea are stomachic, galactagogue laxative and anthelmintic; improve appetite, useful in hallucination, piles, abdominal pains, burning sensations, fevers, ‘tridosha’ and urinary discharge. Leaf paste is applied to relieve headache and juice is used as wash for ulcers.In snake – bite a decoction of the root and bark is given internally

Figure 2: Leaves, fruits and flowers of Gmelina arborea

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Collection of plant: The leaves of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea were collected locally from Sawantwadi, Maharashtra, in the month of February. They were separated, washed thoroughly with tap water and shade dried.

Authentication of plant: The plants were authenticated by Head of PG Department and research Center of Botany of SPK Mahavidyalaya, Sawantwadi, Maharashtra via Ref. No. 12-B/834/2025 date: 27-02-2025, by comparing morphological features of crude drug sample.

Drying and size reduction of plant material:  The leaves of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea were dried under shade then dried leaves were pulverized to coarse powder. The coarse powder of leaves was passed through sieve No.40 to maintain uniformity and stored in cool and dry place.

Physiochemical screening of powders:

(A) Loss on drying

(B Total ash value

(C) Acid insoluble ash value

(D) Water soluble ash value

(E) Foaming index

Preparation of Extracts:

Extraction procedure: Extraction of leaves powder of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea were done by Soxhlet extraction method.

Macroscopic characteristics of extracts of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea: Macroscopic characters e.g. color, odor, test, apperence etc. was observed.

Qualitative Phytochemical Analysis of Crude Extracts: The crude extract obtained by solvent extraction was subjected to various qualitative tests to detect presence of common chemical constituents as: Alkaloids, Glycosides, Carbohydrates, Phytosterols, Saponins, Tannins, and Flavonoids Proteins etc.

Antioxidant Activity:

Free radical scavenging by DPPH scavenging method: Free radical scavenging activity of samples was measured using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Briefly, 1.0 ml of sample solution with different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 mg/ml) was added to a 4 ml of 0.004% methanolic solution of DPPH.

Reducing power by ABTS radical scavenging method: The ABTS radical (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) scavenging activity was carried out based on the method of Gan and Latiff with some modifications.

Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay method: The FRAP assay was conducted following the method described. Aliquots of 0.2 mL of ethanolic extract

Statistical Analysis: Results were expressed as the mean SD (n = 3) for each analysis. Differences were estimated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by LSD test and differences were designated as statistically significant when p<0.05.

Result and Discussions:

1. Preliminary Study:

Table No. 1: Morphological parameter of leaves of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea

2. Physiochemical screening of powders:

Table No. 2: Physiochemical screening of Leaves powders of selected plants

3. Extraction of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea Leaves: Macroscopic character of extracts of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea Leaves

4. Yields of extracts of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea Leaves:

5. Phytochemical screening of extracts of Aegle marmelos and Gmelina arborea Leaves:

6. Antioxidant Activity: Free radical scavenging by DPPH scavenging method:

Table No. 6: % Inhibition of DPPH by leaves extract of Aegle marmelos

Table No. 7: % Inhibition of DPPH by leaves extract of Gmelina arborea

Figure 3: % Inhibition of DPPH by leaves extract of Aegle marmelos

Figure 4: % Inhibition of DPPH by leaves extract of Gmelina arborea

7. Free radical scavenging by ABTS scavenging method:

Table No. 8: % Inhibition of ABTS by leaves extract of Aegle marmelos

Table No. 9: % Inhibition of ABTS by leaves extract of Gmelina arborea

Figure 5: % Inhibition of ABTS by leaves extract of Aegle marmelos

Figure 6: % Inhibition of ABTS by leaves extract of Gmelina arborea

8. Free radical scavenging by FRAP Assay method:

Table No. 11: % Reduction of Ferric ions by leaves extract of Gmelina arborea

Figure 7: % Reduction of Ferric ions by leaves extract of Aegle marmelo

Figure 8: % Reduction of Ferric ions by leaves extract of Gmelina arborea