In - Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Methanolic Extract of the Roots of Bergenia ciliate

Bergenia ciliata is a wellknown medicinal herb with thick rootstocks, 3.5 to 16.5 cm long. The plant is distributed throughout Nepal at 1300-3000 m in moist, rocky places (Manandhar, 2002). Medicinal and aromatic plants play vital role in for livelihood health and socio-economic prospects of the country.The majority of Nepal’s population, especially tribal, ethnic groups and mountain people relies on traditional medical practices (Ajayi et al. 2011). In many cases this practice is transmitted orally from generation to generation and confined to certain people (Edeogn et al. 2005). In present study plant sample was collected from Manang district of Nepal to analize its antioxidant activity and total phenol and flavonoid content. Antioxidant research is an important topic in the medical field as well as in the food industry. Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite (Hafiza et al. 2002). An imbalance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species results in oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage. Oxidative stress has been linked to cancer, aging, atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases (Arutselvi et al. 2012 & Igbinosa et al. 2009). Oxidants are capable of stimulating cell division, which is a critical factor in mutagenesis when a cell with a damaged DNA stand divides. Thus, mutation can arise which in turn is an important factor in carcinogenesis. Both cigarette smoking and chronic inflammation are of the major causes of cancer have strong free radical components in their mechanism of action.Flavonoids may help provide protection against these diseases by contributing, along with antioxidant vitamins and enzymes, to the total antioxidant defense system of the human body. Epidemiological studies have shown that flavonoid intake is inversely related to mortality from coronary heart disease and to the incidence of heart attacks (Tamilarasi et al. 2012). Flavonoids are most commonly known for their antioxidant activity and the capacity of flavonoids to act as antioxidants depends upon their molecular structure. The position of hydroxyl groups and other features in the chemical structure of flavonoids are important for their antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities (Fernandez et al. 2004). Quercetin, the most common dietary flavonol, is a potent antioxidant, because it has all the right structural features for free radical scavenging activity.It is generally assumed that frequent consumption of plant derived phytochemicals from vegetables, Abstract: Bergenia ciliata is an important medicinal plant used in regions where western medicines are inaccessible due to their unavailability and high cost. The methanolic extract of Bergenia ciliataroots was screened for phytochemical constituents and in-vitro antioxidant activity. The plant extract showed the rich source of secondary metabolites that play the role for biological activities.The higher antioxidant activity of the plant is due to the presence of reactive constituents like phenols and flavonoids.The antioxidant activity of the plant extract was measured by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. In DPPH free radical scavenging assay the IC50 value of Bergenia ciliata was found to be 11.21μg/mL, while the IC50 value of standard ascorbic acid was found to be 45.93μg/mL