Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

Plants are considered to be a promising source of medicine in the traditional health care system. Now days, there is a revival of interest with herbal-based medicine due to the increasing realization of the health hazards associated with the indiscriminate use of modern medicine. The aims of present investigation are to carried out phytochemical screening and quantify phytoconstituents of Gmelina arborea (Verbenaceae) flowers extracts. The quantification of total phenolic and flavonoids were carried out using Folin-Ciocalteu method and aluminium chloride method respectively in G. arborea flower extracts. Antioxidant activities of the selected samples were tested using 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Assay. The result revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, Tannins, Triterpenoids, Reducing Sugar, Phenolic compound, steroids in methanol and aqueous extract but Anthraquinones Glycoside were absent in methanol and aqueous extract. Total phenol content was expressed in mg of Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE) per g of dry weight. In results it was found that methanol extract shows highest phenol content 365.94±0.26 mg/g in flowers. The content of flavonoids was expressed in mg of Quercetin Equivalent (QE) per g of dry weight. It was evaluated that total flavonoid content found highest in flowers was 335.24±0.16 mg/g in methanol extract. The Results revealed that methanol extract showed the highest amount of phenolic and flavonoids content was found in methanolic extract of flowers. IC50 for standard ascorbic acid was found to be 51.36 µg/ml and for methanol and aqueous extract flower was found to be 88.20 µg/ml and 130.01 µg/ml respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of Gmelina arborea was evaluated and compared with ascorbic acid. The presence inhibition of flower extract was calculated at various concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200, 250 etc.) as well as standard ascorbic acid. The highest scavenging activity of methanolic and aqueous extract were 95.11±0.64% and 82.43±0.63% at concentrations of 250 µg/ml. The present research could be useful for isolation and identification of specific phytoconstituents responsible for particular pharmacological activity. It was concluded that Gmelina arborea extracts possess a powerful bioactive compound and antioxidant activities.