Antioxidant And DNA Damage Preventive Properties Of Bacopa Monniera (L) Wettst.

Background: Bacopa monniera (L.) Wettst. is a perennial creeping plant found throughout India in wet, damp and marshy areas. Traditionally, it was used as a brain tonic to enhance memory development, learning and concentration and to provide relief to patients with anxiety or epileptic disorders. Objective: Extraction and estimation of antioxidant and DNA damage preventive activity of B. monniera. Materials and Methods: The present study was to assess the antioxidant potential in vitro of extracts of B. monniera in different solvents like hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water. Total polyphenols content of each extract was determined using folin-ciocalteu reagent. The antioxidant activity of different extracts was checked on the basis of 1, 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay. DNA damage preventive property of Bacopa monniera was checked using pRSETA plasmid grown in E. coli. Results: Highest polyphenol content was found in methanol extract followed by water extract (55.0 pg/mg, 52.0 pg/mg gallic acid equivalents respectively). The IC50 values of the DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of methanol extract showed 0.052 mg/ml and 0.034 mg/ml respectively. Reducing power assay results also followed in the same way. Methanol extract was comparatively effective in preventing more DNA damage. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that B.monniera has a significant potential as a natural anti-oxidant and DNA damage preventing agent.