Antioxidant properties and interaction effects of a novel polyherbal formulation.

A novel polyherbal formulation was developed from crude drugs of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall., Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook.f. & Thomson, Curcuma longa L., Curcuma comosa Roxb., and Phyllanthus niruri L. The powdered crude drugs were combined in a ratio of 5-5-3-3-3. The determination of total phenolic content (TPC), the 2,2-diphenyl,1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the polyherbal formulation and the individual constituents were conducted as per standard methods. The interaction effect of the constituents in the polyherbal formulation toward antioxidant activities was predicted by comparison and difference methods. C. longa and P. niruri contained the highest TPC. They showed the strongest antioxidant activities, while those of the polyherbal formulation were in the median range of the constituent's respective value. The combination of crude drugs generated interaction effects of additive and antagonist towards DPPH scavenging activity and FRAP, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]