A Comparative Study on Phytochemical and in Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Herbal Formulation of Achyranthes Aspera and Boerhavia Diffusa Ethanolic Extracts

The present research was conducted to evaluate the yield, phytochemical and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of two widely used medicinal herbs, Boerhavia diffusa, Achyranthes aspera and their herbal mixture. Solvent extract was prepared by subjecting plant material to soxhlet extraction. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis was performed to test the presence of major phytochemical constituents of each plant and their herbal mixture. Evaluation of in vitro enzyme and non enzymic antioxidant activity of plant extracts was studied. The results of the present study reveal that the ethanolic extract showed higher percentage of yield in individual and herbal mixture extracts of Boerhavia diffusa and Achyranthes aspera among other solvents used in the extraction process.A herbal mixture extract possesses more phytochemical and antioxidant activity, when compared with individual plants. The results of the study also suggest that the herbal mixture of both herbs at an equivalent ratio at the same doses as in individual plants showed synergistic phytochemical and antioxidant activity. Thus, lower doses of a combination of herbs may be used in place of individual higher dose to reduce side effects. Keywords: Phytochemical, Antioxidant, Synergy, Boerhavia diffusa, Ahcyranthes aspera.