Estimation of total phenols and flavonoids in Jwarnashak Panch Kashya and its antioxidant activity

Abstract

Jwarnashak Panch Kashya is the polyherbal formulation contained five herbal drugs (Tinospora cordifolia, Swertia chirata, Fumaria parviflora, Zingiber officinale and Cyperus rotundus) in equal proportion has been traditionally used as antipyretic. The present research work was designed to estimate total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in selected polyherbal formulation. Properly identified powdered polyherbal formulation was extracted in Soxhlet apparatus with methanol. Ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract was prepared using standardized procedure. Quantification of phenols and flavonoids was done on the basis of standard curve of gallic acid and quercetin, respectively, using standardized procedures. In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH assay in comparison to standard drug rutin. The total phenols and flavonoids content in methanol extract of polyherbal formulation were found to be 9.01 and 5.13% w/w, respectively, whereas total phenols and flavonoids content in ethyl acetate fraction of polyherbal formulation were found to be 17.99 and 9.11% w/w respectively. Maximum antioxidant activity was observed in methanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction of polyherbal formulation at the concentration of 20 and 5 I¼g/ml respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that antioxidant activity of polyherbal formulation may be due to presence of polyphenols.