Abstract

Safed musli (Chlorophytum borivillianum) is an important ayurvedic medicinal plant. The tubers are said to possess several medicinal values. Hence in an attempt to assess the antioxidant properties of safed musli, the present study was designed to study the radical scavenging antioxidants viz., ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, phenols, tannins, flavonoids and reduced glutathione. Results indicate that the tuber contained good level of radical scavenging antioxidants. The tuber apart from being a rich source of carbohydrate and protein is also a good source of radical scavenging antioxidants, which may be useful in the management of free radical mediated ailments.

Keywords: Chlorophytum borivillianum (safed musli), antioxidants, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione