Abstract:
Primary sources of naturally occurring antioxidants are whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Most of the antioxidant compounds in a typical diet are derived from plant sources and belong to various classes of compounds with a wide variety of physical and chemical properties. Some compounds, such as gallates, have strong antioxidant activity, while others, such as the mono-phenols are weak antioxidants. The main characteristic of an antioxidant is its ability to trap free radicals. These free radicals may oxidize nucleic acids, proteins, lipids or DNA and can initiate degenerative disease. Antioxidant compounds like phenolic acids, polyphenols and flavonoids scavenge free radicals such as peroxide which inhibit the oxidative mechanisms that lead to degenerative diseases. Oxidative damage plays a significantly pathological role in human disease. Free radicals lead to cellular necrosis, which is implicated in some membrane pathophysiological conditions including atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis as well as toxicity of many xenobiotic, ischemia and injury of many tissues, central nervous system injury, gastritis, ageing, inflammatory response syndrome, respiratory diseases, liver diseases, and cancer. Many herbal plants contain antioxidant compounds and these compounds protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, hydroxyl radicals and peroxy nitrite. The plant Tinospora cordifolia was selected based on Ayurvedic literature claim many medicinal uses. So the plant was subjected to antioxidant studies. Result shows better activity in case of aqueous extract prepared from fresh plants compared to ethanolic extract of dried plant. The plant Tinospora cordifolia was selected based on Ayurvedic literature claim many medicinal uses. So the plant was subjected to antioxidant studies. Result shows better activity in case of aqueous extract prepared from fresh plants compared to ethanolic extract of dried plant.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Aqueous Fresh Extract, Ethanolic Extract, DPPH, Cavenging.