AMIT AND NARENDER SINGH*
Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Department of Botany, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136 119 (Haryana),
India
*(e-mail : nsheorankukbot11@gmail.com; Mobile : 94164 12622)
(Received : April 10, 2022; Accepted : May 24, 2022)
ABSTRACT
Lawsonia inermis (family Lythraceae) is commonly called as Heena. To determine the antioxidant activity,
total phenolic and flavonoid content of petroleum ether extract, dichloromethane extract (DCM), ethanol
extract and aqueous extract of henna leaves were taken. Total antioxidant evalution (phosphomolybenum
method), DPPH radical scavenging assay, reducing power assay and lipid peroxidation inhibition assay
were used to discover the potential of leaves as an antioxidant. In all, the evaluation carried out
ethanol showed a greater potential to scavenge DPPH radical, reduce complex and to inhibit lipid
peroxidation. The IC50 value of ethanol was far greater than that of the standard, ascorbic acid in the
lipid peroxidation assay. The activity of aqueous was lesser when compared with that of ethanol but
greater than petroleum and dichloromethane. The amounts of phenolics and flavonoids were present in
higher amounts in ethanol followed by aqueous. Trace amounts of phenolics were detected in petroleum
and dichloromethane but the amount of flavonoids were below the detection level. The study showed
that the antioxidant activity and the concentrations of phenolics and flavonoids were proportionate to
each other. Ethanolic extract of henna seeds were efficient antioxidants, which can be utilized for
further isolation of active compounds and pharmaceutical applications.
Key words : Antioxidant, Lawsonia inermis, leaves