Comparitive antioxidant activity of three herbal extracts

The methanolic crude extracts of some commonly used medicinal plants were screened for their antioxidant activity by using free radical scavenging activity by DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil) assay method and FRM(Ferric ion reduction method) assay, ascorbic acid was used as reference antioxidant. The overall antioxidant activity of Pimenta dioica (All Spice), was the strongest, followed in descending order by Coriandrum sativum (Coriander), Laurus nobilis (Bay Leaf) showed weak or no free radical scavenging activity with the DPPH and FRM method. All the ethanolic extracts exhibited antioxidant activity significantly. The study reveals that the consumption of these spices would exert several beneficial effects by virtue of their antioxidant activity.