ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF TRIPHALA A COMBINATION OF TERMINALIA CHEBULA, TERMINALIA BELLERICA AND EMBLICA OFFICINALIS RAJBIR SINGH 1 , BIKRAM SINGH 2 , NEERAK KUMARB 2 and SAROJ ARORA 1,3 1 Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar-143 005, Punjab, India 2 Division of Natural Plant Products Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology Palampur, H. P. -176 061, India Accepted for Publication January 13, 2009 ABSTRACT The antioxidant, deoxyribose (site specific and nonsite specific) degra- dation, reducing power, chelating power and lipid peroxidation activities of Triphala powder extracted sequentially with methanol, acetone and chloro- form were studied. The methanol and acetone extracts exhibited good antioxi- dant potential than the chloroform extract. The inhibitory potential was correlated with the total phenolic content in the respective extracts. It was observed that fractions were rich in polyphenolic content, thereby showed comparatively more effect than crude extract having less phenolic content. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS As most of the cancer causing agents generates free radicals and cause DNA damage, the antioxidant and anti free radical scavenging activities of Triphala will help in its use as anticancer agent. Moreover, this study will have a great practical application in view of scientific validations of the use of Triphala as a protective agent for cancer. INTRODUCTION Oxidative damage of biological molecules in human body is involved in degenerative or pathological processes such as aging, cardiovascular disease 3 Corresponding author. TEL: 09417285485; FAX: 0183 2258819, 2258820; EMAIL: jrosh1@ rediffmail.com DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-4514.2009.00326.x Journal of Food Biochemistry 34 (2010) 222–232. © 2010, The Author(s) Journal compilation © 2010, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 222