Table 1.
Medicinal plants and their total polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP assays)
| Species | Common name | Traditional use | Plant part | Total polyphenol content%a | DPPH activityb | FRAP activityc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azadirachta indica | Neem | antidiabetic | Leaves | 12.9 ± 0.4 | 781.3 ± 49.0 | 203.8 ± 9.7 |
| Bacopa monnieri | Waterhyssop | enhance memory | Whole herb | 3.4 ± 1.9 | n.a. | 105.6 ± 5.8 |
| Boswellia serrata | Indian olibanum | joint health | Gum resin | 2.4 ± 0.1 | n.a. | 11.8 ± 1.8 |
| Elettaria cardamomum | Cardamom | digestive disorders | Fruit | 2.9 ± 0.7 | n.a. | n.a. |
| Centella asiatica | Gotu kola | antidiabetic | Whole herb | 27.0 ± 1.6 | 263.1 ± 25.4 | 224.2 ± 10.9 |
| Cinnamomum cassia | Cinnamon | antidiabetic | Bark | 22.4 ± 1.0 | 68.0 ± 10.3 | 324.2 ± 21.1 |
| Curcuma longa | Turmeric, Curcumin | anti-inflammatory | Rhizomes | 31.5 ± 1.8 | 111.4 ± 25.2 | 407.6 ± 12.8 |
| Foeniculum vulgare | Fennel | anti-inflammatory | Seeds | 24.0 ± 1.9 | 544.0 ± 14.6 | 179.3 ± 6.2 |
| Gymnema sylvestre | Gymnema | antidiabetic | Leaves | 21.0 ± 1.2 | 468.0 ± 9.4 | 253.4 ± 8.0 |
| Mangifera indica | Mango | clearing digestion | Leaves | 27.9 ± 2.8 | 60.6 ± 5.7 | 695.5 ± 21.7 |
| Moringa oleifera | Moringa | joint health | Fruit | 19.9 ± 2.5 | 758.9 ± 23.8 | 123.6 ± 7.1 |
| Mucuna pruriens | Velvet bean | neurodegenerative | Seeds | 37.0 ± 2.4 | 22.4 ± 1.8 | 2269.2 ± 61.3 |
| Ocimum tenuiflorum | Holy basil | spice | Leaves | 37.1 ± 1.7 | 72.5 ± 4.2 | 754.5 ± 16.8 |
| Phyllanthus emblica | Amla | anti-inflammatory | Juice | 38.9 ± 2.3 | 11.1 ± 1.7 | 2405.7 ± 5.9 |
| Pterocarpus marsupium | Indian Kino | antidiabetic | Bark | 20.6 ± 1.4 | 73.9 ± 11.0 | 774.9 ± 17.3 |
| Punica granatum | Pomegranate | antidiabetic | Fruit Peel | 41.2 ± 0.7 | 13.7 ± 0.7 | 2032.9 ±57.5 |
| Salacia reticulata | Salacia | antidiabetic | Roots | 22.9 ± 1.4 | 791.5 ± 6.1 | 400.9 ± 13.3 |
| Sesamum indicum | Sesame | spice | Seeds | 1.0 ± 0.1 | n.a. | 64.9 ±0.5 |
| Syzygium cumini | Jamun, Black plum | antidiabetic | Fruit pulp | 21.3 ± 3.2 | 129.9 ± 2.7 | 502.0 ± 4.5 |
| Tamarindus indica | Indian date | fever | Fruit | 3.6 ± 1.6 | 614.8 ± 12.7 | 75.2 ± 2.7 |
| Terminalia arjuna | Arjuna | heart disease | Bark | 24.6 ± 0.9 | 84.3 ± 19.2 | 652.2 ± 19.9 |
| Tinospora cordifolia | Guduchi | anticancer | Stem | 8.8 ± 0.5 | 571.1 ± 212.9 | 241.6 ± 2.7 |
| Withania somnifera | Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng | anti-ulcer | Roots | 25.7 ± 0.4 | 279.6 ± 20.1 | 166.1 ± 3.1 |
| BHT* | – | – | – | – | 493.6 ± 8.7 | – |
a
(w/w % as of gallic acid equivalents)
b
value = IC50 (μg/mL), n.a. = not active (IC50 >2000 μg/mL)
c
n.d. = not detected
c
value = ascorbic acid equivalents/mg dry plant material, n.a. = not active
*
Positive control: Butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT