Total Phenol Content Estimation of Camellia Sinensis, Curcuma Longa, Moringa Oleifera, Murraya Koenigii and Piper Betel Aqueous Extracts

Plant phenols and polyphenols present in fruits and vegetables works as an antioxidant compounds when consumed and are thought to play important roles in long term health by reducing the risk of chronic and degenerative diseases. Accordingly various epidemiological and in vitro studies on medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables has proven that antioxidant plant metabolites provides protection against the oxidative stress caused by reactive free radicals, chelating metals and active oxygen hydroxyl radicals; and provides health benefits to the body. Noteworthy antioxidant, anti-tumor, antiviral and antimicrobial activities are also reported for plant phenols and they are considered as active principles of numerous folk herbal medicines. Thus the presence of these compounds in the regular diet might be beneficial to human health by lowering the incidence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Phenols and polyphenols possess diverse physiological roles in the body and are a key for good health. Thus considering the benefits exhibited by these natural products to human health has recommended regular intake of some typical plant-derived food and beverages in everyday diets. The present work was to identify the alternative natural and safe sources of food-based antioxidants especially of plant origin. As majority of the rich diversity of Indian medicinal plants are yet to be scientifically evaluated for such properties, there is an attempt made here to find the potential antioxidant plant sources. Five plants having ethnobotanical medicinal importance and are edible in nature, are selected for the present study. Aqueous extracts of selected plants were screened for Total Phenol content (TCP) using Folin-Ciocalteau Method.