Evaluation and Comparison of Antioxidant Activity in Diplazium Esculentum and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity in Rhododendron Arboreum

Abstract

1.1 Traditional use of plants for medicines As traditional medicine, the pteridophytes which contains ferns and ferns allies, have been known to humans for more than 2000 years, and also been mentioned in ancient literature [1].Ferns are viewed as starvation sustenance and utilized by tribal in different regions of the world. Tribal and rural individuals in different parts of India rely heavily on herbal medicine to satisfy their health needs [2]. The World Health Organization (WHO) assesses that 80% of the world's population depend mostly upon conventional medications. The different bioactive molecule present in ferns makes them a good source for making the medicine. Ferns are the influential biochemical factories and have been part of phytomedicine since ancient times [3]. Indian literature also revealed that many of ferns have been used for treatment of various infections. Therefore, it becomes basic to start pressing ventures for screening of plants for secondary metabolites or phytochemichals. Photochemical are mostly recognized as secondary metabolites of which there are several classes containing alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, glycosides, gums, polysaccharides, phenols, tannins, terpenes and terpenoids. These substances serve as molecules of plant defense against predation by microorganisms, insects and herbivores and at the same time also exhibit medicinal properties for treating several ailments. The plants phytochemicals help to remove the oxygen reactive species or free radicals that are produced in the body. The ROS readily react with organic molecule such as lipids, enzymes; proteins and cause tissue injury [6]. Due to unbalance of the ROS production and antioxidant defenses oxidative stress develops. Free radicals are produced due to the oxidative stress which may cause various diseases such as cancer atherosclerosis, diabetes, aging and neurodegenerative diseases [7]. Phenolic compounds have an attribute of donating hydrogen due to which these undergo redox reaction with free radicals. Free radicals take the proton and gets stabilized [8]. Antioxidants can be used to prevent the accumulation of the ROS species and can be used for treatment of these diseases [9]. Therefore, there has always been a particular interest in finding the natural antioxidant from the plant material. Due to the various bioactive molecules present in plants there has been a growing interest in exploiting the active principles of flora due to their natural origin, cost effectiveness and lesser side effects [5]. Infectious diseases are the world's driving reason for unexpected losses. Therefore, there is a constant need to discover new antimicrobial compounds with various chemical structures and mechanisms of action. Numbers of researchers are investigating plants for the antimicrobial activity, worldwide