ABSTRACT:
Terminalia catappa L is a monoecious tree with large leaves having the ability to protect against toxicants. Hence, preliminary study was performed to know better about the phytochemicals, secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities of fruit flesh. The observed phytochemical results show that it contains alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, anthroquinone, glycoside. In addition to these phytochemicals qualitatively tested, it also found to contain phenolics and flavonoids when tested quantitatively. The results of invitro antioxidant studies assessed show higher metal chelating activity, nitric oxide scavenging, total antioxidant, reducing power activity in Terminalia catappa leaf and also leaf shows higher flavonoid content than phenolics. With respect to Terminalia catappa stem also the metal chelating activity, total antioxidant activity, nitric oxide scavenging activity was higher and the phenolic content was higher compared to lavonoid content. Both the stem and leaf showed lesser hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. The nutrient content like carbohydrate, protein, aminoacid content observed was higher in stem compared to leaf. Percentage yield studies show satisfactory results with Terminalia catappa leaf compared to stem. The variation observed might be due to the solubility potency of the samples studied.