PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF ROOT OF MENTHA ARVENSIS L. FROM KASHMIR REGION

To evaluate phytochemical constituents and antioxidant potential of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of root of Mentha arvensis L from Kashmir region. The antioxidant activity of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Mentha arvensis L was evaluated by using 1, 1-diphenyl, 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, reducing power, metal chelating, hydrogen peroxide scavenging  and nitrous oxide scavenging assays. The total phenolic content (mg/g) was found to be 9.12 and 211.11 mg/g in aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts respectively and total flavonoid content (mg/g) was found to be 32.14and 230.18 mg/g in aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts respectively. The percentage inhibition values of DPPH scavenging for aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts was found to be 35.83 and 57.63 respectively. The percentage inhibition values of Nitrous oxide scavenging for aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts was found to be 39.11 and 63.25 respectively. The percentage inhibition values of H₂O₂ scavenging for aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts was found to be 21.72 and 39.66 respectively. The percentage inhibition values of metal chelating activity for aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts was found to be 46.1 and 65 respectively. The reducing power of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts was found to be 0.75 and 1.48 respectively at concentration of 0.25mg/ml. The results indicate that the hydroalchol extract of root of Mentha arvensis L has good antioxidant potential than aqueous extract and it can be regarded as promising candidates for natural plant sources of antioxidants with high.