EXTRACTION, ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOACTIVE FLAVONOIDS FROM THE FRUITS OF PHYSALIS PERUVIANA LINN EXTRACT

Objective: Although Physalis peruviana Linn. fruit commonly known as golden berries, Cape gooseberries and wild tomato is highly esteemedby consumers all over the world, scientific reports about the fruits are scarce and there was no systemic study in the literature regarding thephytoconsituents present in the fruits of Indian P. peruviana L. Hence, the present study was aimed to determine the total flavonoids as well asphenolic content in the fruits of P. peruviana L.Methods: The ethanolic extract of P. peruviana L. fruits was subjected to phytochemical screening and the total flavonoids as well as phenolic contentswere estimated according to standard protocols. The extract was subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis for the identificationof major flavonoids and the individual flavonoids were characterized by various spectral studies.Results: The qualitative analysis revealed the presence of biologically active secondary metabolites such as phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, sterols,saponins, tannins, lactones and alkaloids in the fruit extract. The fruit extract was also found to contain significant amounts of both phenoliccompounds, as well as flavonoids such as rutin, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that many compounds rather than a single component of P. peruviana L. fruit is responsible forits pharmacological as well as beneficial effects. The data also provide a rationale for the use of golden berries in the traditional medicine for variousailments.Keywords: Physalis peruviana L., Cape gooseberry, Flavonoids, Phenols, Phytochemicals