Investigations on phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of leaves and flowers of Kasood (Cassia siamea L.)
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to analyse the phytochemicals and to evaluate the
antioxidant activity of Kasood (Cassia siamea) leaves and flowers grown at Botanical Garden,
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Proximate analysis; chemical
analysis; mineral analysis; phytochemical parameters and antioxidant activity were determined. Leaves
moisture content (7.51%), ash (5.22%), crude fat (3.69%), crude fiber (12.67%), crude protein
(20.72%), total carbohydrate (51.19%), Cu content (1.06 ppm), Fe content (119.32 ppm), Mn content
(40.60 ppm), Zn content (22.09 ppm), tannins (0.67 mg/g), alkaloids (9.12%). In flowers, moisture
content (5.78%), ash (6.72%), crude fat (8.49%), crude fiber (14.17%), crude protein (20.97%), total
carbohydrates (46.62%), Cu content (10.94 ppm), Fe content (59.05 ppm), Mn content (25.28 ppm), Zn
content (28.67 ppm), tannins (1.50 mg/g), alkaloids (4.52%). Total phenolics (mg GAE/g) found for
leaves in methanol (78.77) was obtained to be highest, followed by aqueous (73.98) and ethyl acetate
(15.28) whereas in flowers total phenolics, in methanol (92.48) was found to be highest, followed by
aqueous (86.25) and ethyl acetate (24.07). Total flavonoids (mg CE/g) for leaves in methanol (25.19)
was found to be highest, followed by aqueous (22.84) and ethyl acetate (3.73) whereas in flowers, total
flavonoids was found highest in methanol (34.77) followed by aqueous (30.71) and ethyl acetate
(4.51). In leaves, DPPH free radical scavenging activity was highest in methanol ranges from 9.57 to
66.74% (IC50 243.59 μg/mL) at concentration level from 50 to 350 μg/mL followed by aqueous ranges
from 7.32 to 61.85% (IC50 272.80 μg/mL) at concentration level from 50 to 350 μg/mL and ethyl
acetate ranges from 12.91 to 70.04 % (IC50 2086.35 μg/mL) at concentration level from 500 to 3500
μg/mL. In flowers, DPPH free radical scavenging activity was highest in methanol ranges from 17.70
to 81.91% (IC50 146.47 μg/mL) at concentration level from 50 to 350 μg/mL followed by aqueous
ranges from 14.04 to 77.37% (IC50 170.99 μg/mL) at concentration level from 50 to 350 μg/mL and
ethyl acetate ranges from 16.27 to 74.46 % (IC50 1871.11 μg/mL) at concentration level from 500 to
3500 μg/mL. Methanol was found to possess highest amount of total phenolics, total flavonoids and
DPPH free radical scavenging activity for leaves and flowers. Among plant parts, flowers possess
higher amount of total phenolics, total flavonoids and DPPH free radical scavenging activity than
leaves. Therefore, methanol extract of leaves and flowers was found to be best natural antioxidant
which plays a great role to improve the human health ailments against the free radicals to combat the
oxidative stress.