Phytochemical and antioxidant activity of Ficus glomerata ethanolic leaf extract

Abstract

The present study is to design new attempt on ficus glomerata leaves one of important medicinal sources. Ficus glomerata is a species of plant in the moraceace family popularly known as the cluster fig tree present in all over India has been recommended for the treatment of diarrhea diabetes, hypertension, Cancer, gastric ulcer, wound healing etc. The leaves of Ficus glomerata was collected, washed with saline water, shade dried room temperature for 20 days. The dried plant material was pulverized in to fine powder using a grinder (mixer) about 9gm of leaf powder was extracted in soxhlet apparatous 50° with ethanol. Crude extract thus obtained is subjected to column chromatography for purification of principle compound. The individual fractions were subjected to qualitative chemical investigation for the identification of the type of active principles. Hexane and ethanolic extrct (1:5) showed the presence of carbohydrate, saponin, phytosterol, protein, amino acid, tannin, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The quantification of total alkaloid, total flavanoid, total tannin and total phenol has been identified from the leaves of plant crude extract and column purified samples by spectrophotometer. The present study deals with the standardization of the plant leaves on the basis of various phytochemical and antioxidant parameters. The column purified extract enhanced free radical scavenging activity of stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), SO &ABTS in In-vitro assay methods. The results of the study indicate that the ethanolic extract of ficus glomerata possess significant antioxidant activity, evidentially proves to be a powerful pharmacological agent.