The present survey was undertaken to explore the traditional knowledge of plant species found in four villages (Athamangalam, Vadukkuveli, Thalainayar and Perumangalam) in Sirkali taluk of Nagapattinam district, Tamilnadu state, The ethnomedicinal information was collected through oral interviews to village elders and vaidyas (those who cure disease by traditional methods) of the rural areas of this district. The knowledge available to the rural population of the area is transmitted only through oral language from generation to generation over time and therefore it needs to be recorded in order to be preserved. Medicinal plants are listed by botanical name, family name, local name, plant parts used and mode of preparation and the names of the diseases cured. About 50 plant species belonging to 27 families were described as effective herbal drugs for various ailments. The documented ethnobotanical uses of plants mostly related to the treatment in curing stomach pain, breast pain, headache, bleeding, yellow fever, muscle pain and blood purifier.

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Oxidative stress resulted from free radicals and reactive oxygen species are associated with many diseases. Worldwide several studies are directed towards finding natural antioxidants of plant origin. Plants containing phenolic compounds have been reported to possess strong antioxidant activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical constituent of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic root extracts and in vitro antioxidant activities of Azima tetracantha Lam. The different extracts of A. tetracantha root were studied for antioxidant potential by using different in vitro assays such as inhibition of DPPH, ABTS + , Hydroxyl radical and superoxide anions. The total phenolic contents and ferric reducing antioxidant power of the extracts were also determined by using standard phytochemical reaction methods. Butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT), Vitamin C and ascorbic acid were taken as standards. The different extracts of A. tetracantha root showed good dose dependant free radical scavenging activity in all the models. The total phenolic content of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic root extracts was found to be 3.30±0.20, 4.20±0.20, 6.30±0.20 and 8.80±0.20 mg GAE/g respectively. Ferric reducing antioxidant power was also found to be increased with increase in extracts concentrations. All the results of the in vitro antioxidant assays revealed the free radical scavenging potential of A. tetracantha root and compared with standard antioxidants. These antioxidant activities may be endorsed to its high free radical scavenging and phenolic contents. Thus, our findings provide evidence that A. tetracantha is a potential source of natural antioxidants.

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