Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL, CYTOTOXIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF SPILANTHUS CALVA

Sandeepta Pati and Sunita Bhatnagar*

Abstract

Spilanthes calva (Asteraceae) whole plant was investigated for their phytochemical, cytotoxic and antioxidant properties. The observation revealed the presence of phytochemical constituents such as flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins and phlobatannins in different extracts of Spilanthes calva. Cytotoxic property of the sample was conducted using Brine shrimp mortality assay where hexane and chloroform showed significant activity (100%) followed by Acetone (>90%) and Methanol extract (>80%). Antioxidant activity was carried out, in which DPPH radical activity of methanolic extract showed the highest antioxidant activity. In case of Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), highest value was obtained in methanol extract. In qualitative TLC based antioxidant assay, maximum numbers of antioxidant bands were obtained in chloroform extract of BEA solvent.

Keywords: Spilanthes calva, medicinal plant, phytochemicals, cytotoxic, antioxidant, TLC, DPPH radical scavenging assay, FRAP.