ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN: A RESERVOIR OF ANTIOXIDANTS

Abstract

Antioxidants activities from plants sources have attracted a wide range of interest across the world in recent times. This is due to growing concern for safe and alternative sources of antioxidants. In this study the effectiveness of antioxidant property of Achyranthes aspera  L. plant was evaluated  by  quantification of different phytochemicals such as Phenolics, Vitamins, Enzymes   from various plant parts at different phases of life cycle. A. aspera.,  is  a good   source of Alkaloids, Anthracene Derivative,  Cardiac Glycosides Diterpenoids, Phenolic Acids and Polyphenols, Saponines & Sapogenins,  Steroids, Sequiterpene Lactones,  Triterpenoids and flavonoids. The range for  Total Phenolic  Content is 0.85-2.88 mg/g , Bound Phenol Content2.33-4.81 mg/g P, Orthodihydroxy Phenol Content  0.06-0.63mg/g ,Tannin content 2.58-8.40mg/g, Flavonols 4.69-13.70mg/g, Quinines 0.002-0.07mg/g,  Vitamine A 0.12-0.68 units/mL, Vitamine  B3.73-97.96 ug/100g, Vitamine C 83.33-194.44 mg/100g, Ascorbic acid oxidase 0.003-0.005 m mole ascorbic acid disappeared/min/mg,  Catalase 0.1-0.2 units/1min/0.250 gm of sample, Peroxidise 0.002-0.066 units/5 min/0.250gm of sample and Polyphenol oxidase 0.103-1.616 units/3 min/250 mg of plant sample. The results suggest that  A.aspera  is very rich in antioxidant compounds worthy of further investigations.