Phytochemical and antioxidant analysis in the aerial part of aerva javanica (burm. f.) schult. (amaranthaceae)

Abstract

Plants are the important source for the discovery of new products of medicinal value for drug development. Secondary plant metabolites are chemical compounds produced by the plant cell, defending themselves from biotic and abiotic stress. The study aims about the qualitative and quantitative analysis of various phytochemicals present in the plant Aerva javanica (Burm.f.) Shult. (Amaranthaceae). The aerial part of the plant was extracted using hexane, chloroform and ethanol and screened for the presence of the secondary metabolites and in vitro antioxidant properties by standard procedures. The present study indicates the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, coumarins, glycosides, carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids. Further findings revealed that the ethanolic extract found to have more constituents in the terms of quantitative analysis and antioxidant activity showed highest radical scavenging activity when compared with other solvent extracts.