PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF CORCHORUS OLITORIUS

Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro preliminary phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of methanolic leaf extracts of Corchorus olitorius L. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging activity method.Methods: Fresh jute leaves (immature, mature and senescence) were collected, air dried and the crude powder was prepared for phytochemical and antioxidant analysis. The powder was mixed with 70% methanol and the supernatant was separated. The antioxidant activity of this methanolic extract was measured on the basis of the scavenging activity of the stable 1, 1-diphenyl 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical with slight modifications. Phytochemical analysis was performed according to standard laboratory protocol.Results: The results indicated the presence of different phytochemicals viz. glycosides, steroids, cholesterol, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, riboflavin, saponins and terpenoids. The sample also showed antioxidant activity by inhibiting DPPH radical. The significant antioxidant activity of methanolic leaf extract of might be due to the presence of saponins, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids found in the preliminary phytochemical analysis.Conclusion: Present study reveals that the jute leaf possesses different phytonutrients and exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity, and therefore, may be used for therapeutic purposes.