Antioxidant potential of polyphenol rich liverworts from the Western Himalayas

Antioxidants are the substances that can delay oxidation by preventing the initiation and propagation of oxidizing chain reactions. Medicinal plants have been used for centuries by man to manage diseases and have a host of antioxidant phytochemicals. The study was designed to estimate the total flavonoid and phenolic content and investigate the antioxidant effect of methanol extracts of Plagiochasma appendiculatum and Pellia endiivifolia. Antioxidant activity was assessed by using DPPH assay, FRAP assay and reducing power estimation method. Phytochemical investigation demonstrated abundance of terpenoids and steroidal compounds and quantitative estimation of flavonoids and phenolics revealed higher concentration in P. endiviifolia extract as compared to P. appendiculatum. Free radical scavenging activity, DPPH assay and reducing power estimation indicated significant antioxidant prospective of methanolic extracts in both the liverworts. These liverworts need to be evaluated further for the assessment of bioactive compounds which might have significant pharmaceutical values.