In vitro antioxidant analysis of ethanolic leaf extract of M. uniflorum was performed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydroxyl (DPPH), 2,2’ azinobis-3 ethylbenzothiozoline-6 sulfonic acid (ABTS+) cation decolourization test, hydroxyl radical (OH.), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide radical (NO), superoxide radical scavenging assays, metal chelating activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP) and reducing power assay using established procedure. Additionally total phenolics and tannin were estimated. The ethanolic stem extract showed better ability to scavenge superoxide radical (IC50 value of 435 ± 0.45 μg/ml), hydroxyl radical (IC50 value of 270 ± 0.51 μg/ml), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydroxyl radical (IC50 value of 485 ± 1.05 μg/ml), 2,2’ azinobis-3 ethylbenzothiozoline-6 sulfonic acid (IC50 value of 310 ± 0.78 μg/ml), hydrogen peroxide (IC50 value of 400 ± 0.76 μg/ml), nitric oxide radical (IC50 value of 335 ± 0.76 μg/ml) and metal chelating activity (IC50 value of 300 ± 0.58 μg/ml). The reducing power and ferric reducing antioxidant power abilities increased with respect to increase in concentration of extract. In all the assays, ascorbic acid was used as standard.
