Singh Anjali, Singh Ayodhya, Dwivedi Vandana, International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology. © 2017, IJARIIT All Rights Reserved Page | 764 ISSN: 2454-132X Impact factor: 4.295 (Volume3, Issue1) Available online at: www.ijariit.com In vitro Antioxidant Potential of Pure Fractions of Eclipta alba Anjali Singh* Department of Chemistry, M.M.H. College, Ghaziabad (UP), 201002 anjalisingh28@rediffmail.com Ayodhya Singh Department of Chemistry, M.M.H. College, Ghaziabad (UP), 20100. dr.ayodhyasingh@gmail.com Vandana Dwivedi Department of Chemistry, M.M.H. College, Ghaziabad (UP), 201002 vandana.dwivedi23@yahoo.com Abstract–Oxidative stress and Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced skin damage, is involved in numerous diseases. Eclipta alba which belongs to Asteraceae family is used traditionally in Ayurvedic system of medicine in India for the treatment of liver diseases. Our study shows that water extract of E. alba has a potent effect in scavenging 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), chelating ferrous ion, and superoxide radicals, exhibiting IC 50 values of 0.21 mg/mL, 1.20 mg/mL, and .49 mg/mL, respectively. Identification and quantification of the wedelolactone, one of the active constituents of the Eclipta alba plant extract, was carried out by HPLC analysis. The result of the present study indicates that the Eclipta alba extract shows a high amount of ascorbic acid, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, contents. The hydroalcoholic extract of Eclipta alba effectively scavenged free radicals at all different concentrations and showed potent antioxidant potency. Eclipta alba extract shows antioxidative properties. Keywords: Eclipta alba, DPPH, BHT, Hydroxyl radical, Superoxide radical. I. INTRODUCTION Medicinal plants derived natural products such as flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, etc. have diverse pharmacological properties including antioxidant activity. Antioxidants are compounds that help to inhibit many oxidation reactions caused by free radicals such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals, etc., thereby preventing or delaying damage to the cells and tissues. The generation of free radicals is a feature of cellular function such as in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, in phagocytosis, and in arachidonic acid metabolism [1]. However, excessive production of free radicals impairs cell membrane integrity [2], causes defects in the susceptible proteins required for mRNA translation, and induces DNA damage and gene mutation [3]. Excess reactive oxidative stress (ROS) which is susceptible to redox dysregulation and oxidative stress is associated with many diseases including cancer [4], [5], diabetic retinopathy [6], and chronic inflammatory disease [7]. Excess reactive oxygen species is also associated with aging processes [8]. Biological systems evolved endogenous defense mechanisms including employing antioxidants and antioxidative enzymes, to help protect against free radical-induced cell damage [9], [10]. Reactive oxygen species [11] including hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, and singlet oxygen are significantly induced in the skin under UV irradiation [12]. Antioxidant compounds have potential to mitigate the effect of free radicals and play an important role as a health protecting factor [13]. Eclipta alba occurs throughout the whole of India. In India, the plant is known as bhangra, "bhringraj" or bhringraja. The branches are hairy, reddish brown and can grow up to 40 cm height. The roots are found growing at the thickened nodal points. The leaves are opposite, lance-like with a toothed edge and hairy. The flowers are white, small and arranged in small clusters. The plant has been reported to contain phytosterol, β-amyrin, triterpenes such as evaluation, echinocyte acid, flavones such as luteolin and coumarin such as wedelolactone [14]. The prime objective of the presently undertaken work was to find out antioxidative properties of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Eclipta alba. II. MATERIALS AND METHODS A. Chemicals The chemicals used in the entire study were purchased from Sisco Research Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India, and Sigma-Aldrich, was of analytical grade. HPLC grade methanol, acetonitrile, and acetic acid were obtained from Merk Specialties Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India.