Abstract

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.