TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF TRIPHALA (AN AYURVEDIC FORMULATION) AND ITS CONSTITUENTS

In the present study, methanolic extract of Triphala (an Ayurvedic formulation) and its constituents; Terminalia chebula, Terminalia Belerica & Emblica officinalis were evaluated & compared for the antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts were measured using ABTS & DPPH radical scavenging assays. The extracts were found to scavenge free radicals; ABTS & DPPH in a dose dependent manner. Total Phenolic content of the extracts were determined and expressed in terms of Gallic acid equivalents. On the basis of the results, it could be concluded that triphala and its constituents are potential source of natural antioxidants and the antioxidant activity is directly related to the phenolic compounds, suggesting direct contribution of phenolic compounds to these activities. Key words: Triphala, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica.