In vitro Antioxidant Activity and Preliminary Phytochemical Evaluation of Different Extracts of Aerva javanica

Background: Ethno medicinal validation, together with the screening of phytochemical and biological activity, is an effective method for identifying new drugs from medicinal herbs. Objectives: The present study was aimed to investigate the phytochemical nature and antioxidant potential of the selected plant Aerva javanica. Materials and Methods: The plant material of A. javanica was collected, authenticated, leaf and stem parts were separated, shade dried, powdered separately in to coarse powder and extracted with ethanol by Soxhlet apparatus. Both extracts (leaves and stem) were subjected to phytochemical evaluation, total phenolic content estimation by Folin-Ciocalteau and the total flavonoids content estimation by using aluminium chloride colorimetric method. In vitro antioxidant evaluation of the leaves and stem extracts were done by different approaches such as DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay, reducing power assay, superoxide and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays. Results: In the preliminary phytochemical analysis, both leaves and stem extract showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The results showed the absence of carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids and sterols. The total phenolic content in the ethanol extract of A. javanica leaves and stems were found to be 891mg/g and 841mg/g of extract equivalent to gallic acid. The total flavonoids content in the ethanol extract of A. javanica leaves and stems were found to be 950mg/g and 900mg/g of extract equivalent to quercetin. The leaves extract showed maximum antioxidant activity comparing with stem extract in all the test approaches employed. Conclusion: The chromatographic and spectral studies and detailed pharmacological evaluation of the extracts may give more promising data.