Phytochemical investigation and in-vitro antioxidant potential of leaves of Murraya koenigii

Murraya koenigii commonly known as curry patta is widely distributed in Uttarakhand (North Indian state) but remains underutilized. The present study has been carried out to evaluate antioxidant potential of Murraya koenigii leaves growing in this region & correlate it with the presence of polyphenols. Methanol, Aqueous and sub-fractions of methanol extract were prepared. Total phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins have shown their presence in both methanol and aqueous extracts. TPC and flavonoids were significantly more (p<0.05) in methanol extract. Among the sub-fraction of methanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction has shown the maximum concentration of TPC (170.7µg GAE/mg of extract) as well as of condensed tannin (110µg CE/mg of extract). Crude methanolic extract has shown best DPPH scavenging activity (EC50-0.187mg) when compared with BHT standard (EC50-0.59mg). β-carotene bleaching assay of ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract has potent antioxidant activity (77.8%; BHT -74.1%) at 1mg/ml concentration. The reducing power of methanol extract (0.273±0.004) and its ethyl acetate fractions (0.239±0.013) is comparable with Tannic acid standard (0.281±0.002) and is significantly more than aqueous extract.