Polyphenol Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Andrographis paniculata L. Nees

The aim of the present study was to establish the polyphenolic profile and antioxidant activity of the leaves of Andrographis paniculata (kalmegh) that could be potentially used for the benefit of mankind. An ultra high performance liquid chromatographic method was used to identify and quantify the individual phenolic compounds of the kalmegh leaves. A total of 20 polyphenolic compounds were identified and quantified in kalmegh leaves, including hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols and other group of phenolic compounds. The UPLC analysis of the phenolic compounds revealed that salicylic acid was the dominant phenolic compound present in the leaves extract followed by gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, veratric acid and protocatechuic acid. The kalmegh leaves were extracted with 4 different solvents (ethyl acetate, methanol, butanol and water) and screened for total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of kalmegh was assessed by evaluating the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power and phosphomolybdenum assay. Ethyl acetate and butanol extract exhibited the highest phenoli