The antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging potential of two different solvent extracts of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntz, Ficus bengalensis L. and Ficus racemosa L.

The stem bark and fruits of Ficus bengalensis L. and Ficus racemosa L. are used in India for the treatment of diabetes and a number of other diseases. Since these effects may be correlated with the presence of antioxidant compounds, methanol and 70% acetone (acetone:water, 70:30) extracts of F. bengalensis (aerial root) and F. racemosa (stem bark) were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and radical scavenging capacity in comparison with Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntz (green tea). Methanol extracts of green tea and F. bengalensis and 70% acetone extract of F. racemosa contained relatively higher levels of total phenolics than the other extracts. The antioxidant potential of the extracts were assessed by employing different in vitro assays such as reducing power assay, DPPH, ABTS+ and OH radical scavenging capacities, peroxidation inhibiting activity through linoleic acid emulsion system, antihemolytic assay by hydrogen peroxide induced method and metal ion chelating ability. Though all the extracts exhibited dose dependent reducing power activity, methanol extracts of all the samples were found to have more hydrogen donating ability. Similar line of dose dependent activity has been maintained in all the samples in DPPH and OH scavenging systems. All the extracts exhibited antioxidant activity against the linoleic acid emulsion system (34–38%). The potential of multiple antioxidant activity was evident as it possessed antihemolytic activity and metal ion chelating potency.