Author(s):

Anjali Soni 1*, Sheetal Sosa 2

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the phytochemical constitution and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of dried leaves of four medicinally important herbs Ocimum sanctum, Mentha spicata, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Spinacia oleracea utilized in our routine diet alongwith one medicinal important tree Gmelina arborea. Qualitative analysis of phytochemical constituents’ viz. tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, quinones, coumerin, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides and quantitative analysis of total phenolics, alkaloids, saponins and flavanoids was performed by the well-known tests protocol available in the literature. Antioxidant activity was studied through DPPH and reducing power assay.The phytochemical screening revealed the extract richness in Tannins, Phlobatannin, Saponins, Flavonoids, Steroids and Alkaloids. Quantitative analysis of phenolics, alkaloids, saponins and flavanoids had revealed that Mentha spicata possessed maximum phenolic (18.41 %), Gmelina arborea highest alkaloids (5.66 %) & flavanoids (22.80 %) and Trigonella foenum-graecum highest saponin (50.12 %) contents. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power assays. IC50 values obtained by DPPH activity for Mentha spicata crude extract was found to be 170µg/ml and reducing power was found to be maximum (1.92) at 1mg/ml concentration. The results suggest that Mentha spicata has promising antioxidant activity and could serve as potential source of natural antioxidants.

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