ASSESMENT OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF MURRAYA KOENIGII LINN.

Objective: To analyze phytochemicals both qualitatively and quantitatively and to estimate in vitro antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and concentration of flavonoids of methanolic extract of leaf, stem and fruit of an important medicinal plant Murraya koenigii Linn. Methods: Phytochemical screening of extracts was carried out. Aluminium chloride colorimetric method was used to estimate TFC (total flavonoid content) and TPC (total phenolic content) was measured by Folin-ciocalteu method. Two different assays- DPPH free radical scavenging and LPO were used for determination of antioxidant activity.

Results: Quantitative estimation of primary metabolites showed maximum amount of sugar, starch in stem, while lipid and protein in leaf. The TPC were ranging between 18.4±0.21 to 25.2±0.16 mg GAE/gm DW while TFC were found maximum 13.53±0.16 mg QE/gm DW in leaves. The DPPH radical scavenging capacity was found maximum in leaves (IC50 49.86±1.16) and maximum activity in LPO assay was shown by leaf extract (23.715±1.68 μM MDAg-1DW). Conclusions: These results are suggestive of primary bioactive compounds of commercially importance and also Murraya koenigii Linn is effective against free radical mediated diseases.