Evaluation of antioxidant potential of grains of Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn.

Antioxidants play a vital role in protection against various diseases and disorders. In search for new antioxidants, nutraceuticals are extensively studied for their preventive effects. Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn., commonly known as Kodo millet, is a minor millet found in India having pharmacological importance. Whole grains of kodo millet were evaluated for its antioxidant potential. Five different extracts of kodo millet, i.e. 70% ethanol, 70% methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts were screened for their reducing capacity and free radical scavenging capacity. 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Assay was performed using ascorbic acid as standard at 515 nm. The reducing capacity was measured at 700 nm with ascorbic acid as reference standard. Highest radical quenching was observed in ethanol extract, 64.609 ± 0.131µg/ml Ascorbic Acid Equivalent (AAE). The reducing capacity was found maximum in ethanol extract, followed by methanol. All the extracts showed antioxidant potential and the hydro-alcoholic extracts, i.e. methanol and ethanol showed high reducing and radical scavenging capacity respectively. The results of preliminary study indicate that the grains of Paspalum scrobiculatum have good antioxidant potential and these can be used as potent Nutraceutical against target diseases which can be studied further.