PLANT CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Many plant species varieties belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae are extensively used by several ethnic communities as traditional medicines throughout the world. The ethno-pharmacological studies of the plant species belonging to this family possess antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Other assets reported are inhibition of prostatic enlargement in rats, cerebro-protective activity and anti-obesity activity in rats. The most important property of plants of this family is anti-cancer activity and is exhibited by the large number of plant species analysed. The anti-oxidant capacity of root extracts in various organic solvents viz. acetone, methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and hexane was studied by quantifying 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picryihydrazyl (DPPH), Nitric-Oxide (NO) free radical scavenging activities, it’ s ferric reducing power (FRAP) as well as it’s Total Polyphenolic Content (TPC) and Total flavonoid content (TFC). The acetone extract had high yields of TPC and TFC  with values (552.8±5.2) mgGAE/g  and (270.6±6.2) mgQE/g and showed comparatively better anti-oxidant activity and the antioxidant activity in DPPH and NO assays (IC₅₀ = 75.92±1.4 and 100.64 ± 1.8  μg/mL respectively). These results suggest that P. aurea root could function as a new source of antioxidants that could act as an aid in preventing oxidative stress.