TITLE:
Synergistic Antioxidant Action of Oregano, Ajowan and Borage Extracts
AUTHORS:
Hafeeza Khanum, Kulathooran Ramalakshmi, Pullabhatla Srinivas, Babasaheb Bhaskarrao Borse
KEYWORDS:
Oreganum Vulgare, Trachyspermum Ammi, Pleactranthus Amboinicus, Antioxidant Activity, Synergistic Action
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.2 No.5,
July
5,
2011
ABSTRACT: Radical scavenging activity (RSA), antioxidant activity (AA), reducing power, total polyphenol (TP) and flavonoid contents (TFC) of oregano (Oreganum vulgare spp), ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) and Indian borage (Plectranthus amboinicus) extracts were evaluated. Oregano exhibited maximum radical scavenging activity (88.2%, 82.3%) for aqueous and ethanolic extracts at 50 ppm concentration respectively, followed by ajowan (86.9%, 68.4%) and Indian borage (30.5%, 30.4%). Extracts of oregano and ajowan showed better antioxidant activity and reducing power than that of Indian borage. Aqueous extracts of oregano had highest TP (Gallic acid equivalents) and TFC (Catechin equivalents) of 27.7% and 50.6 % respectively compared to ajowan (6.7%, 24.4%) and Indian borage (4.2%, 5.5%). Synergistic studies showed that the addition of oregano extract appreciably enhanced the RSA of ajowan and Indian borage extracts even at 50 ppm concentration.