EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF SPILANTHES PANICULATA

Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant potential of Spilanthes paniculata.Methods: The antioxidant activity of three different extracts (ethanol, methanol and chloroform extracts) of the whole plant was evaluated by determining total antioxidant capacity using phospho molybdenum method and total flavonoid content by Aluminum chloride colorimetric method.Results: Preliminary results from phytochemical screening showed that ethanol, methanol and chloroform extracts of S. paniculata contain flavonoids along with other phyto chemicals in moderate to high amounts. The extracts were then evaluated for total antioxidant capacity using ascorbic acid as the standard. The total antioxidant capacity of ethanol, methanol and chloroform extracts was found to be 153.54±1.343, 157.97±6.713 and 200.38±4.028 mg/g of plant extract which were expressed as Ascorbic Acid Equivalents (AAE). Also total flavonoid content was determined and was expressed as quercetin equivalents (QE). The content of flavonoid compounds in ethanol, methanol and chloroform extract was estimated to be 101.58±55.919, 121±74.318 and 51.07±19.121 mg/g dry weight of extract.Conclusion: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the significant antioxidant potential of the extracts might be attributed to moderate to high amount of flavonoids present in the extract.Â