PHYTOCONSTITUENT SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA
Apoorva Sood, Vibhuti Sharma, Manpreet Kaur and Reena Gupta*
ABSTRACT
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, family Solanaceae) commonly known as “Indian winter cherry” or “Indian Ginseng” enhances brain function, improves memory and function of the reproductive system. The presence of numerous secondary metabolites in the roots and leaves of W. somnifera is related to its biological activity. These include alkaloids, flavanol glycosides, steroidal lactones (withanolides), sterols, and phenolics. It was found from this study that ashwagandha has good antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. Ashwagandha root powder contains many active phytoconstituents including alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids (terpenoids), saponins and glycosides in the aqueous, chloroform, hexane and DMSO extract. 1,1-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay was performed to determine the antioxidant activity of different solvent extracts of ashwagandha root. DMSO and chloroform extracts showed strong antioxidant potential compared with standard ascorbic acid. The extracts showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Shigella flexneri and Staphylococcus aureus was also observed.
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