PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS AND HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF MUSA ACUMINATA LEAVES

This study describes the in-vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract of the plant of Musa Acuminata leaves belonging to the family-Musaceace. Folin ciocalteau assaywas used to determine the total Phenolic content while aluminum chloride colorimetric method was used to determine the total flavonoid content. Some of the classical methods to estimate in-vitro antioxidant activity were the Hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, superoxide radicals scavenging activity, nitric oxide radical scavenging assay, reducing antioxidant power assay, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Less phenolic concentration was identified in aqueous extract (51.01 mg/g of extract) while more phenolic concentration was found in hydroalcoholic extract (103.4 mg/g of extract) which is similar to the case of flavonoid content. Concentration of the content played a major role in determining the reducing power activity and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. From the above results, the hydroalcoholic extract of Musa Acuminata shows a significant activity when compared to aqueous extract.

Key Words: Musa acuminata., flavonoids, phenols, antioxidant activity, reducing power assay, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay.