| Abstract | Flavonoids are diphenylpropanes that commonly occur in plants (more than 4000
flavonoids have been isolated) and are frequently components of the human diet (the
daily human intake in the Western countries was recently reestimated to be about 23
mg/d). The immediate family members of flavonoids include flavones, isoflavones and
the 2,3-dihydroderivatives of flavone, namely flavanones, which are interconvertible with the isomeric chalcones. Epidemiological evidence suggests an inverse relationship between dietary intake of flavonoids and the risk of coronary heart disease. It has been suggested that oxidative modification of LDL plays an important role in the development of human atherosclerosis. Thus, protecting LDL from oxidation by such compounds as flavonoids, may be an effective strategy to delay or prevent the progression of the disease (1, 2). The leaves are diuretic, expectorant and stomachic (3). A decoction of the flowers is diuretic, ophthalmic and stomachic. It is also used in the treatment of itch and other skin diseases (4). Report provided reliable information about its antitussive activity (5). The role of free radicals in many disease conditions has been well established. Several biochemical reactions in our body generate reactive oxygen species and these are capable of damaging crucial bio-molecules. If they are not effectively scavenged by cellular constituents, they lead to disease conditions 13. In recent years one of the areas which attracted a great deal of attention. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the
potential antioxidant activity in the control of degenerative diseases in which oxidative
damage has been implicated. Several plant extracts and different classes of
phytochemicals have been shown to have antioxidant activity.
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