www.scholarsresearchlibrary.com t Available online a Scholars Research Library Der Pharmacia Lettre, 2016, 8 (10):238-246 (http://scholarsresearchlibrary.com/archive.html) ISSN 0975-5071 USA CODEN: DPLEB4 238 Scholar Research Library In vitro studies on the biological activities of flowers of banana (Musa Paradisiaca L.) Divya R. S. 1 , Venkatalakshmi P. 1 , Vadivel V. 2 * and Brindha P. 2 1 PG and Research Department of Biochemistry, SengamalaThayaar Educational Trust Women’s College, Mannargudi, Tamilnadu, India 2 Centre for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine (CARISM), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Reactive oxygen species including include superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and singlet oxygen are capable of damaging DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids in aerobic organisms. Inflammation is a bodily response to injury, infection or destruction characterized by heat, redness, pain, swelling and disturbed physiological function. Inflammation is a normal protective response to tissue injury caused by physical trauma, noxious chemical or microbial agents. It is the body response to inactivate or destroy the invading organisms, to remove the irritants and set the stage for tissue repair. It is triggered by the release of chemical mediators from injured tissue and migrating cells. Obesity is a significant risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease and diabetes and it is also associated with many other medical conditions including cancer, liver and kidney diseases. Recently, studies have been intensified towards finding out a natural source of drug without any side effects. In this view, in the present study we have evaluated the antioxidant, anti- inflammatory and anti-obesity activities of banana flower extract. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the flower extract of banana revealed promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-obese effects due to significant total phenol content. Key words: Banana flower, Aqueous extract, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Lipase. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Inflammation is part of the body’s immediate response to infection or injury. It is characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain. These occur as a result of increased blood flow; increased permeability across blood capillaries, which permits large molecules (e.g., complement, antibodies, and cytokines) to leave the bloodstream and cross the endothelial wall; and increased movement of leukocytes from the bloodstream into the surrounding tissue. Inflammation functions to begin the immunologic process of elimination of invading pathogens, toxins and to repair damaged tissue. These responses must be ordered and controlled. The movement of cells into the inflammatory or infected site is induced by the up-regulation of adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin on the surface of endothelial cells, which allows leukocyte binding and subsequent diapedesis. Oxygen, the most critical element for life, is highly lethal to strict anaerobes and is the main source of free radicals. By definition a free radical is any atom (e.g. oxygen, nitrogen) with at least one unpaired electron in the outermost shell, and is capable of independent existence. When cell uses oxygen to generate energy, free radicals are created as a consequence of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production by the mitochondria. These by-products are generally reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that result from the cellular redox process. These species play a dual role as both toxic and beneficial compounds. At low or moderate levels, ROS and RNS