title: Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic contents in hydrophilic extracts of selected Bangladeshi medicinal plants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate hydrophilic extracts from edible portions of fifteen plants for total phenolic content (TPC) and anti-oxidant capacity (AC) as an effort to find possible sources for future novel antioxidants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Folin-Ciocalteau and DPPH radical scavenging assays were employed to determine TPC and AC, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the assayed plants, TPC (mean±SD), expressed as gallic acid equivalent, varied from 0.04±0.01 (Amaranthus spinosus) to 6.01±0.04 (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) mg gallic acid equivalent/g fresh weight. AC (mean±SD), expressed as trolox equivalent, ranged from 0.14±0.00 (Alternanthera philoxeroides) to 7.54±0.00 (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) μmol trolox equivalent/g fresh weight. A significant and positive linear relationship (R(2)=0.99) was observed between TPC and AC of Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Oxalis corymbosa, and Alternanthera sessilis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study implies that the analyzed plants possess varying degree of antioxidant capacity and, therefore, the antioxidant potency of these underused plants may be utilized to prevent oxidative damage and oxidative stress related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Avonti Basak
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Tukun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. Electronic address: nzmshaheen58@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nazma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Cadi Parvin
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Banu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohiduzzaman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Saiful
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Momtaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Begum
keywords: Anti-oxidant capacity; DPPH radical scavenging assay; Folin-Ciocalteu assay; Medicinal plants; Total phenolic content