Abstract

Rupa Sengupta* and Maytreyi N. Zaveri

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of the present work was to assess the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total tannin content (TTC) of aqueous, hydro-alcoholic and methanolic extracts of Abrus precatorius(L.) and Cordia wallichi(D.) leaves. Gunja (Abrus precatorius) is commonly known as Crabes Eye or Wild Liquorice Root, is a plant species belonging to the family Fabaceae (Papilionaceae). The genus Cordia, especially especially Cordia dichotoma, C. wallichi, C. oblique,(Boraginaceae) among others, has long been used in traditional medicine as well as used extensively in many Ayurvedic preparations with significant therapeutic significance. Methods: The amount of total phenols was estimated using Folin–Ciocalteu assay, the amount of total flavonoids by aluminum chloride assay, total alkaloids by bromocresol green-complex assay and Total glycyrrhizin by reference UV estimation method. Results: From the above estimation it was observed that, among all three solvents used for extraction in a series, the contents of total phenolics(TPC), total flavanoides(TFC) total alkaloides(TAC) and glycyrrhizin is highest in the methanolic extract of both the plant leaves. The TPC, TFC and TAC of the methanolic extract of Abrus precatorius (L) and Cordia wallichi D leaves were5.85±1.4 and 3.65±0.09 mg gallic acid equivalent per g respectively, 1.8 ±0.16 and 2.46±0.22 quercetin equivalent per g respectively, 12±0.16 and 5.8±0.35 atropine equivalent per g, respectively. The glycyrrhizin content in methanolic extract of Abrus precatorius (L) was found to be 1.07±0.12 mg of glycyrrhizin equivalent per g of extracts. Conclusion: This study gave an insight to the phytoconstituents present in the plant and useful for quantification of the compound in herbal formulations.