Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF THE AERIAL PARTS OF BRASSICA NIGRA

R. N. Regitha, N. Balakrishnan and V. Parthasarathy*

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Abstract

Plants contain a wide variety of phytochemical constituents, which are secondary metabolites used directly or indirectly in the pharmaceutical industry. Most of the fast research indicated that plants are a good source for treating many diseases affecting mankind. For centuries, man has effectively used various components of plants or their extracts to treat many diseases. Since Brassica nigra seeds have numerous pharmacological properties, the present study analysed its phytochemicals qualitatively and invitro anti-oxidants studies. Ethanolic extract of this plant was discovered in the phytochemical analysis, and results indicated that the extract has a high amount of phenol, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, terpenoids and mucilage and protein compounds. Ethanolic extract of the plant of Brassica nigra aerial parts was subjected to antioxidant activities such as DDPH assay, reducing power assay, hydroxyl free radical scavenging activity, ABTs+ radical scavenging activity and superoxide anion scavenging activities. The plant has shown effective antioxidant activity in all assay techniques. The results obtained in this study indicate that the plant Brassica nigra is a potential source of natural antioxidants. The phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of Brassica plants make them desirable candidates for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications.

Keywords: Brassica nigra, Flavonoids, Phytochemical analysis, Ethanol, Antioxidant.