In vitro assessment of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Triphala and Punarnava: a comparative study

Abstract

Triphala and Boerhavia diffusa (Punarnava) are widely used medicinal plants known for their diverse pharmacological properties, particularly their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of microwave-assisted hydroalcoholic extracts of Triphala and Punarnava using established in vitro assays. The hydroalcoholic extract of the plant material was prepared using the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique employing ethanol: water (70:30 v/v) at 200 W and 50 °C for 18 min. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide radical scavenging assays, while anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using protein denaturation and proteinase inhibition assays. Concentration-dependent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were demonstrated by both extracts. The antioxidant property was better shown by triphala having lower IC₅₀/EC₅₀ value in the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC tests. On the other hand, punarnava had better anti-inflammatory activity especially in protein denaturation and proteinase inhibition assays. The study demonstrates that Triphala and Punarnava possess complementary pharmacological activities, with Triphala acting predominantly as a potent antioxidant and Punarnava exhibiting stronger anti-inflammatory effects. These findings suggest the potential of Triphala and Punarnava as useful natural sources in the development of new, complementary therapeutic modalities in the management of diseases or disorders.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2026 · DOI ↗