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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
The aim of this work was to establish the antioxidant capacity and the polyphenolic profile of important medicinal plant, Ficus roxburghii Wall. that could potentially be used in the human and animal diet. The widespread use of herbal remedies and healthcare preparations is described in the Vedas and the Bible. Medicinal Plants have been used for thousands of years to flavor and conserve food, to treat health disorders and to prevent diseases including epidemics. Active compounds produced during secondary metabolism are usually responsible for the biological properties of plant species used throughout the globe for various purposes, including treatment of infectious diseases. One such medicinally important plant Ficus roxburghii was chosen and the present study was designed to perform preliminary phytochemical analysis of various extracts of Ficus roxburghii leaves and fruits viz. methanolic (FRME), ethanolic (FRETH), chloroform (FRCHLO), hexane (FRHEX). In addition, total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents of various extracts were measured, also the various extracts were evaluated for the antioxidant capacities using most widely accepted in vitro chemical tests such as DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays. The result of the preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of various phytochemical groups viz. carbohydrates, reducing sugar, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, lignins, amino acids, saponins, glycosides, sterols, triterpenes, and alkaloids with variations among the various extracts. Results for the assays of antioxidative activity showed that all extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner. The best antioxidant potential was found in Methanolic extract of F. roxburghii (FRME). FRME has the ability of scavenging ABTS and DPPH radicals in dose-dependent manner, to much better extent than FRCHLO, FRHEX and FRETH. This study shows that the fruit and leaf extract of Ficus roxburghii could be used as a probable antioxidative agent. The leaves of Ficus roxburghii show a more positive result in the antioxidant and phytochemical test as compared to fruits. Additional highly developed research is essential for isolation and identification of specific active components which are responsible for pharmacological properties of the plant.