In vitro antioxidant activities and phytochemical analysis of five selected plant materials used for oral health and hygiene among people of Dakshina Kannada.

ABSTRACT

A comprehensive study on the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of alcoholic extracts of five plant materials, such as mango leaves, fibrous pericarp of coconut and areca nut, tender twigs of Jatropha curcus and Jatropha gossipifolia, used for oral health and diseases by people of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India was conducted. The extract of different plant materials contained various levels of phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and so on. Various biochemical assays performed to assess the radical scavenging activity have shown good activity and was found to be concentration dependent. Of five selected materials, mango leaves, fibrous pericarp of coconut and areca nut showed more antioxidant activities than tender twigs of J.curcus and J. gossipifolia.