A review on the phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of Polygonum glabrum L.

Free radicals and oxidants give rise to a phenomenon known as oxidative stress; this is a harmful process that can negatively affect several cellular structures, such as membranes, lipids, proteins, lipoproteins and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) [13–18]. Oxidative stress emerges when an imbalance exists between free radical formation and the capability of cells to clear them. Antioxidants are substances that can neutralize the free radicals by donating and electron, this neutralizing effect helps protect the body from oxidative stress. Studies have shown that Polygonum glabrum has proved to contain high concentrations of antioxidants and can possibly be implemented in preventing and treating oxidative stress related ailments. This review is an effort to study the antioxidative properties of Polygonum glabrum, and how it may help as a medicine to tackle different ailments caused by oxidative stress in the body and to shed a light into the importance of medicinal plants and to update the phytochemical data of the plant