Pharmacognostical Studies and Anti-oxidant Activity of Tagetes erecta (Marigold) LINN Flower

Abstract

Plants are the living gifts of nature. Drugs obtained from plants have very low side effects and are very popular worldwide. Tagetes erecta Linn locally known as Genda Phool (Marigold) belongs to the family Asteraceae. It is containing about 50 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plant. The plants have numerous pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antiepileptic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antidepressant, antifungal etc. It is used as wound healing, soothing and softening the skin and thus used in skin care products. Microscopic parameters (Tagetes erecta) showed the presence of calyx (dark green, ovate), corolla (Bright orange, oblanceolate), cortical portion and fibro vascular bundle and macroscopic parameters showed that the flower is of bright orange colour, aromatic odour and distinctly bitter taste. Total ash value, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble extract value, alcohol soluble extract value, loss on drying (moisture content) were found to be 4.91% w/w, 1.63% w/w, 0.2% w/w, 72% w/w, 16.7% w/w and 7.44% w/w respectively. Phytochemical analysis of different extract showed the presence of different primary and secondary metabolites like tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, saponins, alkaloids compound etc. The IC50 value was calculated.