PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF IMMATURE PALMYRA PALM (BORASSUS FLABELLIFER LINN.) FRUITS

Krisnamoorthy Renuka,Vellai Roshana Devi,Sorimuthu Pillai Subramanian

doi:10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i8.27162

Krisnamoorthy Renuka, Vellai Roshana Devi + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i8.27162

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Abstract

Objective: The present study was aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant properties of immature Palmyra palm fruits which have been traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes. The qualitative phytochemical screening and quantitative estimation of total phenolic and flavonoids contents in the ethanolic extract were performed to substantiate the antioxidant and medicinal claims.Methods: Immature palmyra palm fruits were collected, authenticated, dried and powdered in an electrical grinder. The powdered fruits were delipidated in petroleum ether and soxhilation using ethanol to extract the active ingredients. Qualitative phytochemical screening, total phenolic and flavonoid contents were carried out by established methods. The in vitro antioxidant potentials were performed by diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid, nitric oxide and superoxide anion scavenging assays.Results: The phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, phytosterols, triterpenoids and phenols in the immature palmyra palm fruits extract. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents in the fruits extract was found to be 104.00±0.02 μg gallic acid equivalents/100 mg of fruits extract and 98.45±0.03 μg quercetin equivalents/100 mg, respectively. The percentage inhibition of DPPH radicals range from 35 to 70% at a concentration ranges from 200-1000μg/ml. Similarly, the percentage of inhibition of ABTS radicals was found to be in the range of 40 to 75.5%. The nitric oxide scavenging activity of the fruits extract ranges from 45 to 76% whereas the superoxide radical scavenging activity ranges from 43 to 83%.Conclusion: The observed significant free radical scavenging activity along with increased total phenolic as well as flavonoid contents suggest that the immature fruits may be considered as a potential source for the identification of pharmacologically active phytochemicals capable of controlling oxidative stress.

Highlights

Palmyra palm, botanically termed as Borassus flabellifer Linn. belongs to the family “Arecaceae” which is distributed widely in the tropical regions of Asian and African countries [1]
The phytochemical screening forms the basis for the quantitative estimation of bioactive constituents present in various parts of medicinal plants
The qualitative analysis of the fruits extracts evidenced that the immature fruits contain most of the important bioactive principles which readily accounts for its folklore medicinal claims

Summary

Introduction

Botanically termed as Borassus flabellifer Linn. belongs to the family “Arecaceae” which is distributed widely in the tropical regions of Asian and African countries [1]. Belongs to the family “Arecaceae” which is distributed widely in the tropical regions of Asian and African countries [1]. It is a slowgrowing perennial capable of living more than 150 y and has no distinguishable features to identify the sex until flowering. The palm tree unfurls 12 leaves per year or occasionally one leaf per 28 d [2]. Male palm produces 10-15 inflorescences each year which in turn bear 15-20 little flowers. The palm tree starts flowering and fruiting 15-20 y after germination, during the dry season [3, 4]

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