Antioxidant Properties of Rhazya stricta Decne

Rhazya stricta Decne is an evergreen dwarf shrub belonging to the Apocynaceae family. The plant is widely distributed in the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent. The plant has a long history of use in folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases, including cancer. The extracts of the plant are prescribed for the treatment of various disorders such as diabetes, sore throat, helminthiasis, inflammatory conditions, fever, and chronic rheumatism in the areas where it grows. The extracts of plants possess radical scavenging activities and have shown antioxidant activities in a variety of bioassays, including animal models. The plant-extract-based nanoparticles also exhibited antioxidant activity. A detailed account of the antioxidant activity of the extracts of the plant is presented.