European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF LAURUS NOBILIS EXTRACT

Suman Masih Minj* and Wasim Raja

ABSTRACT

Laurus nobilis L. (laurel) leaves are frequently used as a spice for cooking purposes. Folk medicine in many countries uses the infusion of the plant in stomachic and carminative remedies, as well as for the treatment of gastric diseases. Little information is available about the phytochemical composition of the infusion of dried leaves, which is a way to consume this aromatic and medicinal plant. Laurus nobilis L. (laurel) leaves are frequently used as a spice for cooking purposes. Folk medicine in many countries uses the infusion of the plant in stomachic and carminative remedies, as well as for the treatment of gastric diseases. Little information is available about the phytochemical composition of the infusion of dried leaves, which is a way to consumethis aromatic and medicinal plant. Laurus nobilis commonly known as bay leaf, sweet bay belonging to the family Lauraceae is one of the most useful industrial plant used in foods, drugs, cosmetics. The present study focused on the antioxidant activity of Laurus nobilis Leaf Extract in vitro conditions. The dried leaf of Laurus nobilis was extracted with methanol using a Soxhlet extractor. The total phenolics content of leaf as determined by Fenton reaction and was found to be good antioxidant activity as different dose concentrations. The antioxidant activity of plant extract was carried out with ascorbic acid as a standard reducing agent. All the analysis was made with the use of UV-Visible Spectrophotometer. In this plant Laurus nobilis Leaf Extract there was a remarkable concentration dependent free radical scavenging and reducing power was exhibited. These findings demonstrated that Laurus nobilis Leaf Extract possess free radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity as well as antioxidant activity in vitro. In conclusion the present study indicates that L. nobilis Leaf Extract may be a potential source of natural antioxidant. The results suggested that L. nobilis Leaf Extract could serve as a potential source of antioxidant and can be used in any preparations for combating free radical mediated damage to the body.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity, Fenton Reaction, Hydroxyl radical, ascorbic acid, Laurus nobilis, TBARS.