Abstract

IN VITRO FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF THE CHLOROFORM EXTRACT OF INDIGOFERA ERIOCARPA: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Dr. V. Kishor Kumar*, M. Bharath, S. Dheepakumar, M. Jayasuriya, P. Praveenkumar, B. Vasanth, Mr. Naveenkanth R.

ABSTRACT

Oxidative stress, which is fueled by the overproduction of free radicals, is an important factor in the development of chronic and degenerative diseases. There has been more interest in natural antioxidants as alternatives to synthetic agents because of their safety. Indigofera eriocarpa is a lesser known species of the Fabaceae family with documented traditional medicinal uses, phytochemicals including flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and phenolics, all of which have antioxidant potential. This review is a critical analysis of phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, and reported antioxidant activity of I. eriocarpa, particularly in vitro free radical scavenging activity comprised of ABTS, DPPH, nitric oxide, O-phenanthroline and superoxide assays. The data shows a medium to high radical scavenging capability especially in the ABTS and superoxide model systems, which proves its usage as a natural source of antioxidants.This review demonstrates the therapeutic potential of I. eriocarpa and the importance of future studies into compounds isolation, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and translational potential in diseases related to oxidative stress by providing a bridge between the traditional and experimental studies.

Keywords: Indigofera eriocarpa, Antioxidant activity, Free radical scavenging, Phytochemistry, Natural antioxidants, Oxidative stress.