Moringa oleifera have been evaluated for its antioxidant activity. M. oleifera leaves were extracted with methanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and n-hexane. The antioxidant activity of extracts were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay and an improved 2,2’-azino-bis-[3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulphonate] (ABTS) radical cation decolorization assay in vitro. Trolox was used as standard with IC50 5.89 μg/mL in DPPH assay and 3.06 μg/mL in ABTS assay. The methanol extract showed the highest free radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 49.30 μg/mL in DPPH assay and 11.73 μg/mL in ABTS assay. This study provided that M. oleifera leaves possess antioxidant.

Cassia alata or locally known as Ketepeng Cina (Indonesia) and Gelenggang (Malaysia) has been used as a traditional medicine to treat various diseases, especially skin diseases. In addition, C. alata has been reported to have potential anti allergic, anti inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antifungal. Metabolite compounds that have been isolated from C. alata include flavones, flavonols, flavonoids glycosides, alatinon, alanonal and β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside. The compounds have been isolated mainly from the leaves. Further identification is needed to discover the secondary metabolites from other parts of the plant such as seed, flower and bark which are reported to have potent antibacterial and antifungal activity. Therefore, this article highlights the secondary metabolites and biological activity of this plant which has been shown to have pharmacological properties against selected diseases.