Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant potential of seeds extract from Embelia ribes

Abstract

Embelia ribes, commonly known as Vayuvilanga, is a medicinally valuable, woody climber, a well-known drug in Ayurvedic system. The dried powdered seeds were subjected to sequential extraction by solvents like acetone, petroleum ether, water, methanol, and chloroform in increasing order of their polarity. The phytochemical screening of seed extracts revealed that the seeds were rich source of secondary metabolites. The results of DPPH and ABTS assays for antioxidant activity showed great free radical scavenging activity under low concentrations for methanolic extracts. Upon quantification of methanol and acetone extract showed the highest amount of flavonoid and phenolic compounds respectively. The presence of flavonoids and phenolics are responsible for the antioxidant activity as they are free radical scavengers in vivo.