An Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Tribal Medicinal Plants Used in Bastar.

Abstract

Traditional medicinal plants have long been utilized by tribal communities of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, wounds, infections, fever, and other ailments. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of selected tribal medicinal plants commonly used in Bastar. Ethanolic extracts of Azadirachta indica (Neem), Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), Aloe vera, and Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) were prepared and investigated for their phytochemical constituents, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory activity. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, phenolic compounds, and terpenoids in all extracts. The total phenolic content was estimated using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while total flavonoid content was evaluated by aluminium chloride colorimetric assay. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging assay, whereas anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated through protein denaturation inhibition assay. The results demonstrated concentration-dependent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in all plant extracts. Among the tested samples, Tinospora cordifolia exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with significant free radical scavenging effect, while Azadirachta indica showed remarkable anti-inflammatory potential. The study validates the traditional therapeutic use of Bastar tribal medicinal plants and highlights their potential as natural sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. The findings suggest that these medicinal plants can be explored further for the development of herbal formulations and pharmaceutical products.