In-vitro Antioxidant Activity of the Successive Extracts of Ziziphus Mauritiana Leaves

The importance of medicinal plant has been emphasized from time to time. It is believed that the drug of natural origin shall play an important role in health care particularly in rural areas of India. Ziziphus mauritiana belongs to family Rhamnaceae and commonly known as Indian jujube or ber .The leaves are alternate and elliptic. Flowers are small and bisexual .The leaves are about 2.5 – 3.2 cm long. Commercially it is cultivated in China & India. Ziziphus mauritiana is small to medium sized spiny tree. Ziziphus mauritiana contains fructose, galactose, malonic acid, malic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and vanillic acid .The antioxidant activities of the plant extract and pure compounds were assessed by Reduction of NBT (Nitro Blue Terazolium) and Nitric Oxide Radical Inhibition activity method. The five successive extract (benzene, petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extract) of Ziziphus mauritiana Leaves and one standard (Ascorbic acid) were tested for in-vitro antioxidant activity. The result was expressed as IC50 values and percentage inhibition at different concentrations (25, 50, 100, 200, 250, and 500 in μg/ml). The methanol extract showed maximum antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 36.34±0.16μg/ml and percentage inhibition 33.60±0.06, 41.08±0.12, 64.40±1.32, 76.36±0.56, 81.42±0.64 and 87.23±0.04 at 25, 50, 100, 200, 250, and 500 in μg/ml concentrations respectively. INTRODUCTION: Ziziphus mauritiana belongs to the family Rhamnaceae and is generally propagated by seeds. Several cultivars have been selected among the seedling populations for their superior fruit quality. This fruit is commonly consumed in households as fresh and is dehydrated for later use. The powder from the fruit is used for baking and to prepare jam and a traditional loaf. Mature green fruits (unripe) are used in India to prepare chutney, pickle and jelly . The leaves are simple, shining green above and whitish tomentose beneath, commonly sub-orbicular to ovateoblong, rounded at both ends, highly variable in shape and size . The flowers are small and yellow green in colour.The fruit is an edible drupe with yellowish brown colour and 1-5 cm long, sweet and sugary in taste . Ziziphus mauritiana contains fructose, galactose, malonic acid, malic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid ,caffeic acid,ferulic acid and vanillic acid . Ziziphus mauritiana mostly contains Alkaloids, Sapogenin & Flavonoids .The leaves also contains carotenoids, protein and tannin while fruit contains Mg, Ca, Zn, Mn, Fe & P in mesocarp.