COMPARATIVE ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL AND TOTAL POLYPHENOLIC CONTENTS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF Datura stramonium

This study was carried out to evaluate the total polyphenolic contents and antioxidant potential of different parts of datura stramonium. extracts of different parts of datura stramonium were prepared by reflux and mercerization methods with methanol and water. total polyphenolic contents were evaluated by folin-ciocalteu method. antioxidant potential was determined by using dpph, super oxide and nitric oxide radical scavenging tests. reductive power and antioxidant potential in linoleic acid system were also evaluated in all parts of plant. the seeds, leaves, stem and flower extracts of d. stramonium exhibited a wide range of tpc (total polyphenolic contents) and antioxidant potential. all parts of plant under study showed appreciable amount of total polyphenols. amongst different parts, flower extracts prepared by reflux using methanol as solvent, exhibited the highest polyphenolic contents (880 mg gae/g of extract) and showed maximum antioxidant potential. methanolic extracts of flowers at 100μg/ml concentration inhibited the maximum dpph radical (99%), super oxide radical (96%), nitric oxide radical (86%) and linoleic acid peroxidation (56.45%). methanolic extract of flowers also showed maximum reducing potential. these results indicate that flowers of d. stramonium are promising source of natural antioxidants.