Antioxidant and wound healing studies on the extracts of Corchorus olitorius leaf

Abstract

The methanol extract of Corchorus olitorius leaves was subjected to antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The extract exhibited a high degree of antioxidant activity. From the FRAP assay absorbance increased with increasing concentration of plant extract indicating a strong reduction potential of the plant. Phytochemical screening on both methanol and aqueous extracts revealed the following constituents’ common to both solvent extracts except alkaloids which were absent in the methanol extract: Alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides. The plant powder and aqueous extracts were taken through screening for wound healing activity by excision model. Both the powder and the aqueous extract showed significant activity when compared with control and standard. Percentage of wound contraction on 18th day was found to be 100% for the powdered plant ointment, 5% powdered plant ointment and100mg/ml aqueous extract respectively. The results have significantly demonstrated the wound healing activity and the antioxidant activity of the leaves of Corchorus olitorius.