GC-MS analysis and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Grewia asiatica L.

Grewia asiatica L. (Tiliaceae) is a perennial shrub, indigenously known as Phalsa and endemic to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and African countries. Its fruit juice is useful in diabetes, diabetic nephropathy and in the treatment of coronary heart diseases. The different parts possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer and antioxidant properties. The present study was conducted to analyze the phytochemical composition of methanolic extract of different parts of Grewia asiatica. The different extracts prepared were evaluated for their antioxidant activity. The phytochemical investigation was done using gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity of methanol extract of different parts was evaluated using DPPH and FRAP assays using ascorbic acid as standard. GC-MS analysis reveals stigmasterol (7.47%), α-tocopherol-β-D-mannoside (4.75%), oleic acid (3.47%) from root, 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol (6.33%), phytol (2.51%), neophytadiene (2.28%) from stem, n-hexadecanoic acid (12.46%),5-hydroxymethylfurfural (4.93%), octadecanoic acid (2.14%) from flower and α -tocopherol, 2(5H)-furanone in fruits. G. asiatica root methanolic extract showed maximum DPPH free radical-scavenging activity (87.32 ± 0.15%) at 500 μg/ml and AEAC (557.9 ± 0.65 μM) for FRAP assay at 1000 μg/ml concentration. Observed results reveal bioactive compounds in G. asiatica which could be used as a source of natural antioxidants.