ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF MICHELIA CHAMPACA L. FLOWERS

Abstract

Michelia champaca L. is an evergreen, small to medium sized tree. It is commonly known as Swarna champa or Kanak champa. Present study was conducted to test the antioxidant potential and phytochemical analysis of its flowers. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in-vitro by DPPH radical scavenging assay and reducing power assay. Highest activity was shown by methanol extract of flowers at 150$\mu$g/ml concentration in both DPPH assay and reducing power assay. Inhibition concentration 50% value of methanol was found to be 1.73 $\mu$g/ml and which is similar to standard ascorbic acid. A good correlation was also found to exist between percentage inhibition and concentration of extract with value r2 = 0.9951 and r2 = 0.9357 in DPPH and reducing power assay respectively. Phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract showed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids and tannins.