Invitro Antioxidant Activity of Embelia basaal Burm.f. (Myrsinaceae)

This study evaluated the phytochemical screening, secondary metabolite content of different extracts and antioxidant activity of acetone extracts of Embelia basaal leaf and bark. Using Soxhlet extraction the different solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone and ethanol were used for determining the qualitative phytochemical analysis and it confirmed the presence of primary and secondary metabolites. The quantification of total phenolic, tannin and flavonoid contents were found to be higher in the acetone extract of E.basaal bark. Subsequently the acetone extracts were subjected to antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide, ferric reducing, superoxide, lipid peroxidation, and reducing power) and the results revealed that the acetone extract of E.bassal bark demonstrated superior free radical scavenging activity compared to the leaf. Thus, the findings highlight E.basaal has potential for developing health promoting drugs.