Evaluation of antioxidant, free radical scavenging potential and phytochemical screening of methanol extract of Bombax Malabaricum DC. prickles

Back ground -Bombax Malabaricum DC. is known as the red silk cotton tree, found in tropical America, Eastern Himalayas to South-East Asia. According to Charak Samhita, Bombax Malabaricum is among the top ten antiseptic, and tissue regenerator. While, according to another classical literature Sushrut Samhita, Bombax Malabaricum stem bark is useful in acne, hemorrhagic disorders, wound healing, and in burns. The trunk of plant bears prickles. The stem bark has been studied for its effect on acne. However, very limited work has been carried out for evaluating antioxidant and free radical scavenging potential of Bombax Malabaricum prickles. Objective -So, we were aimed to analyze the antioxidant potential and phytochemical screening of methanol extract of prickles of Bombax Malabaricum. Methods- Antioxidant & free radical scavenging potential was measured by DPPH, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging and reducing power assay. Phytochemical screening was performed as per standard literature. Results-Based on DPPH, nitric oxide, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, prickle extract showed strong scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 35.30 ± 1.11 µg/ml, 16.33 ± 1.05 µg/ml. & 41.73 ± 1.17 µg/ml, respectively. Curcumin & ascorbic acid were used as standard. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenol, tannin, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, and triterpenoids. Conclusion -Thus, methanol extract of prickles of Bombax malabaricum DC. scavenged different free radicals efficiently, which might be due to the presence of tannins, & polyphenols. Further research can be done for isolation & characterization of phytochemicals.