ABSTRACT:
Background: Ayurveda deals with the propensity of the herb to bestow upon the body enhanced capacity of warding off infections and delaying the ageing progression. Ethnic natural products have become the substitute way to switch the synthetic medicine. Aim: An endeavor has been made to evaluate the phytochemicals and free radical scavenging efficacy of different parts of Malaysian Mengkudu using different solvent extracts. Methods: The herbal powder obtained from various parts of Mengkuduplant i.e. dry leaves, dry fruits and fresh fruits were extracted with various solvents. The extracts were analyzed for phytochemicals and antioxidants, carotenoids,ascorbic acid, tocopherol, total phenol, proteins, reducing sugars and sterols. Antioxidant activity was reconnoiteredin terms of superoxideradical scavenging assay and reducing power assay. Result: Phytochemical characterization of the different extracts revealed the presence of the phytochemicals-alkaloids, coumarin, phenols, flavonoids, sterol, saponin glycosides, reducing sugars, proteins, cardio active aglycones and cardinolides. Discussion: Excellent superoxide radical scavenging ability found in almost all extracts of Malaysian Mengkudu. In the present study superoxide radical reduces nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) to a blue colored formazan that is measured at 560 nm. Antioxidant activity has been reported to be concomitantwith development of reducing power. This shows that extracts might comprise reductones like ascorbic acid, reducing sugar, thiol group encompassing protein which could react with free radicals to alleviate and sack the radical chain reaction. Conclusion: These outcomes propose that the guaranteeing phytonutrients of the plant could be subjugated against oxidative stress, cancer, ageing, ischemic heart disease in dissolving thrombus, microbial infections and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) justifying their use in conventional medicine as nutraceuticals.