PHYTOCHEMICALS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN BOERHAVIA DIFFUSA

Objective: The study aims to investigate the methanolic extract of different plant parts (leaves, stems, and roots) of Boerhavia diffusa L. (family Nyctaginaceae), for their antioxidant activity and were used for quantitative estimation of the total phenolics as Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE) per gram dry weight and total flavonoid as Quericitin Equivalent (QE) ) per gram dry weight, ascorbic acid content and Antioxidant potential of the plant was also evaluated. Methods: The methanol extract of the leaves, stem, and root of Boerhavia diffusa were estimated for total antioxidant capacity using 1,1-diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, total phenolic, flavonoid and ascorbic acid contents using spectrophotometric methods. Results: Maximum Total Phenolic content was recorded in Leaves (24.5±1.703)mgGAE/gdw. Also Maximum Total Flavonoid content was found in Leaves (79.86±3.757)mQE/gdw). Maximum Ascorbic Acid content was found in Leaves (0.333±.166)mg/gdw while minimum in Roots (0.026±0.002)mg/gdw and Highest radical scavenging activity is observed in stems with IC50 value 90.8±2.275. Conclusion: It signifies that the Plant-derived phenolics and flavonoids represents good sources of natural antioxidants, From the above results it seen that this plant exhibits significant antioxidant activity.