The purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activities of
polyphenolic extract of fruits of Terminalia chebula Retzius (Combretaceae). The polyphenolic
extract of T. chebula fruits was evaluated for antioxidant activity by determining reducing power
assay, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH radical (IC50 14 μg/mL), nitric oxide radical (IC50 30.51
μg/ml) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay (IC50 265.53 μg/ml) under in vitro conditions.
Moreover the phytochemical characterization of the extract was also measured by determining
total phenolic, flavonoids, tannin and ascorbic acid contents. The characterization of the extract
was also done by HPLC profiling with standard gallic acid. The present study demonstrated that
extract have significant reducing capacity and scavenging of nitric oxide as well as hydrogen
peroxide induced radicals. This activity of the extract may be due to the total polyphenolic
contents present in it. The antioxidant activity of the extract was more significant than standard
ascorbic acid in a concentration-dependent manner. The present study concluded that a
polyphenolic rich fraction of T. chebula fruits is a potential source of natural antioxidants