Abstract

ISOLATION OF AN ANTIOXIDANT COMPOUND FROM CALAMUS ROTANG LEAVES

Tanaya Ghosh and Prasanta Kumar Mitra*

ABSTRACT

Calamus rotang (C. rotang) has several pharmacological properties Including antioxidant activity. Recently we have shown that methanol extract of C. rotang leaves of winter has maximum in vitro antioxidant activity. Aim of the present work was to isolate antioxidant compound from C. rotang leaves. Winter sample of C. rotang leaves was collected from the medicinal plant garden of the North Bengal University and identified by the taxonomist. Methanol extract of the leaves was prepared and processed for isolation of antioxidant compound. Acid hydrolysis, solvent treatment, chromatographic experiments followed by crystallization were done to isolate a compound. In vitro antioxidant activity of the isolated compound was measured by superoxide anion generation with the help of xanthine- xanthine oxidase assay, linoleic acid peroxidation assay as well as by DPPH photometric assay Isolated compound showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity which was comparable to that of quercetin, a synthetic antioxidant. The isolated compound may, therefore, be used as natural antioxidant.

Keywords: Calamus rotang leaves, isolation of antioxidant compound, in vitro antioxidant activity of the compound, xanthine-xanthine oxidase assay, linoleic acid peroxidation assay, DPPH photometric assay