Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF NELUBO NUCIFERA GAERTN

Dr. M. Revathi*, Dr. R. Manonmani and V. Sowmiya

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Abstract

The present investigation was carried out with the studies of important techniques for the identification of phytochemicals present in crude drugs of flower of Nelambo nucifera Gaertn. which can be helpful in authenticating the plant material and in characterization of the crude drug. Qualitative analysis of ethanolic extract of flowers of Nelambo nucifera Gaertn. showed that the appearance of various phytoconstituents. Quantitative analysis of flower extract of Nelambo nucifera Gaertn. exhibited that the presence of most important phytochemical constituents in various amounts. The greatest amount of phytochemical constituents such as tannins, flavanoids, saponins, phenols, alkaloids and their values were found out. In the flower extract of Nelambo nucifera Gaertn. ascorbic acid showed higher concentration. The antioxidant activity was found to be 76.19% at 100μg/ml concentration while ascorbic acid gave 84.92% at the same concentration. At 20 μg/ml, 40 μg/ml, 60 μg/ml and 80μg/ml concentrations the activity showed were 61.90%, 65.87%, 70.63% and 73.01% respectively. Above finding provided the scientific evidence for the medicinal use of this traditionally used flower.

Keywords: Nelumbo nucifera, ethanol, ascorbic acid, phytochemicals.