Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Jasminum Sambac

INTRODUCTION Jasminum sambac is a sub erect shrub with young shoots of ovate or elliptic glabrous simple leaves, entire margin, and acute apex with opposite arrangement, grown as an ornamental shrub in gardens and cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of India (1). Leaves, roots and flowers are used as lactifuge. The whole plant is used as diuretic, emmengogue, antihelminthtic and deobstruent. Otto from flowers is used as deodorant and leaf preparations are used to treat insanity (2,3,4). The earlier literature of Jasminum sambac revealed the presence of dotricontanol, oleanolic acid, daucosterol and hesperidin and dotriacontanic acid isolated from the roots (5). In addition, the presence of glycosidic precursors such as benzyl 6-O-ß-Dxylopyranosyl ß-glucopyranoside(beta–primeveroside),2phenyl ethyl ß primeveoroside, phenyl ethyl 6-O–alpha L–rhamnoside were reported(6). Preliminary phytochemical screening reported the presence of alkaloids, glycosides and tannins from the leaves of Jasminum sambac(7,8). The plant also exhibited antilactation effect, antibacterial, antiviral, antiproliferative, anti acne and anti inflammatory effect (9-13).The present study is an attempt to investigate the antioxidant potential of Jasminum sambac.