Recent years have witnessed a global increase in attempts to identify pharmacologically potent and biologically safe antioxidant compounds for use in food industry and preventive medicine. Although traditional systems of medicine utilize several plants for their medicinal properties, however, their use requires scientific validation for wider acceptance. Perilla ocymoides Linn. (Lamiaceae) commonly known as sookloti, is a small evergreen shrub. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the leaves of P. ocymoides and to quantify the total phenolics and flavonoids. The methanol extract of P. ocymoides leaves exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity and recorded considerable amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids. The present work showed that the methanol extract of P. ocymoides can be considered as a source of natural antioxidants and hence provides a basis for developing valuable food additives to enhance human nutrition.
