Exploring Natural Medicinal Resources: Comparative Study on Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Potential

Abstract Background: Plants have served as the foundation of traditional medicines. The myriad of compounds belonging to chemical classes found in plants have been associated with various therapeutic potential. Recent research reports showed that plant-derived phenolic compounds possess great antioxidant properties and exhibit cytotoxic potential as well. Southern Haryana has a rich diversity of plants many of which remained under-explored for their therapeutic properties. Objective: In the present study, selected widely growing plants in the region were evaluated for their antioxidant and cytotoxicity potential. Methods: The antioxidant activity was evaluated using (2,2-dyphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and cytotoxic potential was evaluated using (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay. Results: Glycyrrhiza glabra showed maximum radical scavenging activity whereas Cinnamomum verum was found to have maximum antioxidant potential as estimated by FRAP assay i.e., range from 0.8 to 1 mg FSE/g DW. Tectona grandis has maximum phenolic content with a range of 30 to 35 ± 3.01 mg GAE/g DW). The maximum flavonoid content was found in the Saraca asoca. The highest antioxidant potential was shown by Fraxinus excelsior and Cinnamon verum. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the widely growing plants could be a potential source of natural antioxidants and selected plants may further prove beneficial in targeting diseases associated with oxidative stress. Plants have the potential to be a long-term sustainable resource of bioactive chemicals. The present study also exhibited that the therapeutic potential of plants is highly reliant on the type of plant material used.