A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF AERIAL PARTS OF NELUMBO NUCIFERA GAERTN BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC MASS SPECTROMETRY

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn a perennial aquatic plant also known as sacred lotus. The Rhizome, flower, seeds and leaves all are edible and have been proved for their medicinal value. Study about its phyto-nutrients in the aerial parts are scanty. In the present study a phytoscreening of aerial parts of Nelumbo nucifera seeds and seed pod was done to assess and compare their phytoconstituents. Total phenolic content in Nelumbo nucifera seed pod was 93.45mg Gallic Acid Equivalents and 10.5mg/g in the seeds, the total flavonoid content was 295.312mg/g Quercetin Equivalents  in NN seedpod and 28.125mg/g in the seeds, tannin content is 508.7mg/g Tannin Equivalents in Nelumbo nucifera seedpod and 69.637mg/g in seeds. Gallic acid, Quercetin and Tannin Equivalents were taken as standard for phenol, flavonoid and tannin content respectively. Phytochemical constituents analyzed by Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry analysis of aerial parts Nelumbo nucifera can be used for routine quality control analysis. The data obtained emphasize, the potential of traditional medicine Nelumbo nucifera, whose phytoconstituents form a source of natural antioxidant which could prevent many free radical mediated diseases.