FOLIAR NUTRACEUTICAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTY OF DIOSPRYOS LANCEIFOLIA ROXB. (EBENACEAE) – AN IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANT OF ASSAM, INDIA

Abstract: The genus Diospyros L. belongs to the family Ebenaceae is commonly known as "Persimmon". It is native to China and America but also found in almost every tropical parts of the world. The plant is attributed with medicinal properties like anti-fertility, anti-tumor, anti-malarial, anti-diarrheal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities etc.. The present study was designed to evaluate the nutraceutical and antioxidant activity of the leaves of Diospyros lanceifolia Roxb.. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by using 1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. The IC50 value of methanolic extract of D. lanceifolia was found to be 76.74 ± 1.9 µg/ml. The study has revealed that the leaves can be used as therapeutic agent as they exert several beneficial effects by virtue of their antioxidant activity.

Keywords: D. lanceifolia Roxb., Antioxidant activity, Total Phenolic compound, Ascorbic acid, Gallic acid, DPPH.