Abstract

Natural products have been playing a vital role in protection against different diseases since ancient times. Many medicinal plants are still unexplored about their medicinal values scientifically, but they are still used in traditional medicine. The current study was aimed to explore and evaluate the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant activity against different free radicals with in vitro methods and in vivo methods using albino Wistar rats and hepatoprotective activity against ethanol-induced liver toxicity. The extracts of Aerides odorata show sterols, terpenoids, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, alkaloids, quinones and the absence of amino acids and oils. The hydroalcoholic extract had showed presence of more phenolic and alkaloid contents compared to ethyl acetate and hexane extracts of Aerides odorata. The extracts of Aerides odorata had shown antioxidant potentiality in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The extracts had more inhibition in reducing 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and almost the same potentiality in altering antioxidant enzymes levels. The extracts of Aerides odorata had shown concentration-dependent hepatoprotective activity. However, it is moderate as compared with the standard drug Liv 52. The hydroalcoholic extracts had more activity compared to ethyl acetate extract. The activity is more in the reduction of free radicals but is lower in the reduction of hepatoprotection. The compound in Aerides odorata may act synergistically or individually in controlling both activities. Further studies are worthful in the evaluation of different biological activities and the isolation of individual bioactive compounds.