Herbal plants produce a diverse range of bioactive molecules, making them a rich source of different types of medicines. Thus, a proper scientific evidence or assessment has become the criteria for acceptance of herbal health claims. In the present study, the antioxidant activity of the various crude extracts of leaves of Ricinus communis L. were determined by reducing power assay. The amount of total phenols were analysed by using Folin-Ciocalteau assay and the amount of total flavonoid contents were analysed using aluminium chloride calorimetric assay. The results revealed that methanol extract exhibited the highest level of reducing capacity and containing highest amounts of phenolic and flavonoid whereas petroleum ether showed less reducing activity and considerably contain very less amounts of phenolic and flavonoid contents. The extracts were compared to standard antioxidant ascorbic acid. The results presented here not only show the reducing power, TPC or TFC of plant but also its medicinal value for the treatment of various ailments.
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