Comparative Analysis of Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Potential of Ethanol Leaf Extracts of <i>Psidium guajava</i> and <i>Syzygium jambos</i>

Background: Plant-based drugs for various human ailments are becoming very important in the current domain of therapeutics. Aim: Psidium guajava and Syzygium jambos are two such plant species known for their medicinal properties in traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda. Methods: Phytochemical analysis including GCMS, and antioxidant studies (DPPH) was carried out for both plant extracts. Results: Comparative phytochemical analyses of ethanol extracts of both these plants have shown the existence of bioactive components like tannins, polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids. These phytochemicals were quantified and the ethanol extracts were subjected to GCMS analysis which showed the presence of cis-β-farnesene, cis-calamenene, copaene, humulene, caryophyllene, phytol, neophytadiene, n-hexadecanoic acid etc, many of which possess diverse properties like antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. DPPH and reducing power assays revealed the excellent radical scavenging activity of the extracts. Conclusion: Among the two plants under the current study, S. jambos extract showed better results when compared to P. guajava concerning the antioxidant potential and the quantity of flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols and tannins present in the plant samples.