Antioxidant potential of five Ksheerapaka’s and Kashaya’s, Ayurvedic decoctions

Abstract

Five milk decoctions and water decoctions prepared by using coriander; ginger, pepper, tulsi and turmeric were evaluated for in-vitro antioxidant activity using standard DPPH, ABTS and hydrogen peroxide methods. The milk decoctions exhibited potent antioxidant activity when compared to their corresponding water decoctions. The total phenol content of the milk decoctions was also found to be high supporting the antioxidant activity. The study provides a scientific validation of the common preference of milk decoctions over water decoctions in Ayurveda for a few plants.