Evaluation of In Vitro Nitric Oxide Scavenging Activity of Medicinal Plant-Ehretia laevis

Ehretia laevis, from the family Boraginaceae is an important medicinal plant. All parts are widely used in medicines. Present study reports in vitro antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of leaves and stem of Ehretia laevis. The study was further extended for fractionation of leaves extract in methanol. Those various activities were compared to standard antioxidant such as ascorbic acid. The comparison of antioxidant activity of stem and leaves, prepared in 80% ethanol, reveals that activity of leaves is higher than that of stem. Methanol extract, prepared at room temperature, along with its fractions indicates activity. As antioxidant therapy is found to be useful in complicated disease status related with free radical activity, the present study might be extended for the formulation and evaluation of different antioxidant herbal dosage forms.