VERMICOMPOST SUPPLEMENTATION ON ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn

Free radicals or highly reactive oxygen species are formed by exogenous chemicals or endogenous metabolic processes in the human body. Recently there has been an upsurge of interest in the therapeutic potentials of medicinal plants as antioxidants in reducing free radical scavenging activity. Vermicompost is an organic materials broken down by the interactions between microorganisms and earthworms in a mesophilic process to produce fully stabilized and organic soil amendments with low carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratios Vermicompost is rich in NPK micronutrients, and beneficial soil microbes, so it is garnering attention as a greener replacement for chemical fertilizers to maintain and further improve soil quality. In the present study effects of vermicompost supplementation on antioxidant activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum was investigated. Anecic earthworm Lampito mauritii, Vermicompost, Farmyard manure and seeds of Trigonella foemum-graecum. L was inoculated in to soil at different treatments. Seeds of Trigonella foemum-graecum treated with 0.1% Mercuric chloride for 2 minutes and washed with running water to remove contamination of seed coat, prior to germination studies. The experimental setup was designed and it was classified in to six groups. Trigonella foenum – graecum was plugged out from the different treatment experimental setup at after 15 days. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. DPPH scavenging activity of ethylacetate, ethanol and aqueous extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum with different treatments was studied. Out of which ethanol extracts of Trigonella foenum-graecum exhibits maximum level of DPPH free radical scavenging activity and group IV possessed the good activity when compared to other groups due to presence of vermicompost and Lampito maurtii. The extract from Trigonella foenum- graecum treated with vermicompost and Lampito marutii showed better antioxidant activity when compared to other groups. The present study suggests that Trigonella foenum-graecum could be used as natural antioxidants and nutraceuticals to enhance the health benefits.