The comparative preliminary phytochemical investigation, TLC analysis and antioxidant activity of different solvent extracts of Boerhavia diffusa Linn.

Abstract

The Plant Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. is an herbaceous member of the family Nyctaginaceae which is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics. The present study is aimed to investigate the phytochemicals present in ethanol, methanol, chloroform, aqueous, hexane and petroleum ether extracts obtained from Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. and TLC profiling. The plant material was extracted with various solvents based on their polarity by the process of soxhlet extraction method. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was performed by different qualitative methods. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrates, tannins, alkaloids, saponins and phenolic compounds. The solvent system selected for the best results of TLC was chloroform and methanol of the ratio of 9:1 and 8:2. The study will provide referential information for the correct identification of the bioactive compounds and a suitable solvent system for separation of those compounds from the boerhavia diffusa Linn. The different solvent extracts were further screened for in-vitro antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, Nitric oxide, superoxide free radical scavenging, FRAP and hydrogen peroxide methods. Taken together, our results suggested that methanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. might contain potential antioxidant compounds.