IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND DETERMINATION OF TOTAL PHENOLIC, FLAVONOID CONTENTS OF STEMS OF ROTULA AQUATICA LOUR

This research aims to detect the in-vitro antioxidant activity of the methanolic and aqueous stem extract of Rotula aquatica lour and to estimate its phenolic and flavonoid content. DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl), superoxide radical scavenging capacity and reducing power assay (RPA) were carried out to evaluate in vitro antioxidant activity. Phytochemical screening was carried out according to standard procedures followed by their TLC profiling was carried out. Total phenolic content was estimated by using Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent and total flavonoid content by Aluminium chloride colorimetric method. It was observed that DPPH and superoxide IC50 value of methanolic and aqueous stem extracts of Rotula aquatica lour were found to be (50.98 +/- 0.19) mu g/ml, (73.67 +/- 0.12) mu g/ml and (65.41 +/- 0.42) mu g/ml, (71.97 +/- 0.31) mu g/ml respectively and reducing power of the extract was increased with the increasing concentration. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were found to be 6.80 g and 5.90 g gallic acid equivalent per 100 g and 2.60 g and 1.79 g quercetin equivalent per 100 g of methanolic & aqueous extract respectively by spectrophotometric method. These primary findings suggest that stem extract possess phenolic and flavonoid constituents that are responsible for antioxidant activity.