PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL IN FLORAL EXTRACTS OF CALENDULA OFFICINALIS LINN.
Pawan Kumar Verma, Rajinder Raina*, M Sultana
ABSTRACT
Calendula officinalis Linn. (Compositae) commonly known as pot
marigold is distributed throughout world as an ornamental plant. It also
has long history of usage by folk systems because of rich
ethanomedicinal values. Present study was aimed to determine
phytochemical constituents endowed with antioxidant potential in
floral extracts of C. officinalis. Ethanolic extract has significantly high
(P<0.05) total phenolic, flavonoids, β-carotene, lycopene, tannin,
chlorophylls contents as compared to aqueous extract of C. officinalis.
Phytochemical ingredients present in ethanolic extract have high total
antioxidant activity, superoxide, nitric oxide, hydroxyl, free radicals
scavenging activity and reducing power. A dose dependent relationship
has been observed between different concentrations of extract and
radicals scavenging activity. Median effective concentrations of ethanolic extract for total
antioxidant activity, free radical, superoxide, nitric oxide and hydroxyl radicals scavenging
activities are 0.88, 1.20, 0.53, 0.68 and 0.79 mg ml-1 respectively. Ethanolic extract of C.
officinalis has high phenolic, flavonoids, β-carotene, lycopene, tannin, chlorophylls contents
endowed with high antioxidant potential as compared to aqueous extract. Thus, the dietary
supplementation or addition of ethanolic extract of C. officinalis may provide protection
against free radicals induced cellular damage besides improving the food quality by retarding
oxidative degeneration of food lipids.
Keywords: Total antioxidant activity, free radical, hydroxyl, Calendula officinalis.
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