Assessment of antioxidant activity of some selected medicinal herbs available in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Antioxidants are of natural or synthetic origin, used in the poultry feed to prevent deterioration during storage. Natural antioxidants are gaining popularity as a feed additive. To explore potential natural antioxidants, 16 herbs collected from all over Tamil Nadu were analyzed their Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC). Significantly highest (P< 0.05) Total Antioxidant capacity was observed for Syzygium aromaticum (2910.38 ± 39.47) and significantly lowest (P< 0.05) TAC was observed for Coriandrum sativum (177.9 ± 36.52). Emblica officinalis (2649.00 ± 41.20) had the second significantly highest TAC. The third significantly highest TAC was present in Curcurma Longa (2228.89 ± 215.68). Phyllanthus niruri exhibited similar TAC as that of Curcurma longa. From the study it can be concluded that Syzygium aromaticum, Emblica officinalis, Curcurma Longa and Phyllanthus niruri are herbs that possess significantly highest TAC and are probable candidates to be explored as antioxidant feed additives for poultry.