EVALUATION OF TOTAL PHENOLIC, FLAVONOIDAL CONTENT, AND DPPH FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF AILANTHUS EXCELSA ROXB.

Objective: Estimation of total phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant activity of various plant parts (leaves, stem, root, flower and fruit) of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. methanolic extracts.Methods: Different plant parts were extracted with methanol, then the total phenol content was calculated by using Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, total flavonoid content was estimated by using Aluminum Chloride Colorimetric Method and the antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) assay.Results: The highest total phenolic content (48.38 mg GAE/gdw) was observed in flower and lowest phenolic content in root (28.56 mg GAE/gdw). The highest total flavonoidal content (21.5 mg QE/gdw) was found in leaf and lowest in root (1.11 mg QE/gdw). The highest radical scavenging activity was found in flower extracts with the IC50 value of 36.85 µg/ml and the lowest scavenging activity was observed in root extract that was found to be 1493.46µg/ml.Conclusion: According to the results of present investigation the plant showed significant antioxidant activity that can be used for medical purpose for the treatment of various diseases.Keywords: Antioxidant activity, Ailanthus excelsa Roxb., Total phenolic content, Total flavonoid content, DPPH (2, 2- diphenyl- 1- picryl hydrazyl), Scavenging activity.