Comparison and evaluation of total phenolic, flavanoid content and antioxidant activity of crude methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Carica papaya Leaves

The present study describes the evaluation and comparison of antioxidant activity of the methanolic and ethyl acetate leaf extract (CME and CEE) of Carica papaya. The antioxidant potential was evaluated in terms of total phenolic and flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging potential, iron reducing power assay and total antioxidant capacity by standard procedures. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated as gallic acid and catechin equivalents respectively. Maximum phenolic (42.96 GAE/mg of plant extract) & flavonoid (39.56 CE/mg of plant extract) contents was found in CME. Both CME and CEE showed the potent antioxidant activity with IC50 5.96 µg/ml & 6.79 µg/ ml respectively which are very close to standard ascorbic acid (IC50 2.16 µg/ml). The CME showed potent total antioxidant activity and iron reducing power assay than that of CEE. The results suggested that both the extracts of the leaves of C. papaya possess potent antioxidant activities and can be a good source of natural antioxidant.