Abstract

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND DPPH RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OF BARK OF BAUHINIA ACUMINATA LINN.

Sreeja Sanjeev* and Regi Raphael K.

ABSTRACT

Bauhinia acuminata L (Fabaceae) is a species of flowering shrub native to tropical south eastern Asia. The bark of B.acuminata are used against various skin diseases, worms, tumours and diabetes. The Indian vaiydas recommended as a remedy to treat severe biliousness. The qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytochemical constituents in various extracts and the antioxidant potential of bark of Bauhinia acuminata were evaluated. The phytochemical screening reveals the presence of various primary and secondary metabolites like sugar, ketoses, amino acid, fat, quinone, cardiac glycoside, steroids, phenol, saponin, alkaloids and acid content. In quantitative analysis the important secondary metabolites such as alkaloids and phenolic compounds were estimated in all the extracts. Phenol content was more in aqueous extract (1.89 ±0.05) catechol/g and alkaloid content in ethyl acetate (0.83 ±0.03) atropine/g. The aqueous and ethyl acetate extract produced significant antioxidant properties in a dose- dependent manner. DPPH free radical scavenging assay of aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of bark exhibited IC 50 values of 69.64 ±1.113μg/ml and 42.62 ± 0.859μg/ml respectively. At 1000 μg/ml concentration both extracts shows maximum radical scavenging activity (81.72% & 92.14%). The findings of this study indicate that this plant is medicinal with prominent antioxidant property.

Keywords: B.acuminata, Photochemicals, Antioxidant, DPPH radical scavenging.