Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activ...

Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Ethanolic Rhizome Extract of Acorus Calamus Linn

Author Name : Langphu Wangsu, S. Tamilarasu, Dr. P. Thamizhiniyan

Acorus calamus Linn (sweet flag) is a well-known traditional herb used in in Indian system of medicine for many ailments including epilepsy, mental illness and rheumatism. The present study was designed to explore the phytochemical potential and antioxidant activities of A. calamus rhizome in ethanol extracts. The powdered rhizome of A. calamus, was subjected to Soxhlet extraction to elucidate phytochemical studies and antioxidant property of plant extract using in vitro assays. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed significant indication about the presence of various bioactive secondary metabolites viz., Saponins, alkaloids, phenols, steroids, and flavonoids. Quantitative analysis was performed to determine the Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) through spectrophotometric method. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical scavenging assay (DPPH) and Ferric reducing power assay (FRAP) were used to analyse antioxidant activity. The qualitative analysis shows that the total phenolic content shows higher value ( TPC = 0.54 plus/minus 0.04 * mg / g GAE). The DPPH assay showed that the highest % RSA in ethanolic rhizome extract 91.48 plus/minus 1.11 with standard 115.17 plus/minus 1.17 at The IC50 250mu*g / m * l value of rhizome with ascorbic acid at 50 - 250mu*g / m * l was showed 165.12 plus/minus 1.22 and 128.33 pm 1.33 respectively. The study clearly demonstrates a potent anti-oxidant activity of A. calamus as shown by in vitro assays. Flavonoids and phenols extracted from sweet flag could be a good potent source of antioxidants for nutraceuticals application or food additives as those compounds are correlated to the antioxidant activity.