Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF BIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF NON VIABLE SEEDS OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA(L)Dunal.

Smruti Rekha Sahoo and Sunita Bhatnagar*

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Abstract

Four solvents seed extracts of Withania somnifera were explored for phytochemical, antioxidant, cytotoxic activity along with the presence of withanoloides. Phytochemical tests revealed the the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannin, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids. Antioxidant activity was conducted by qualitative and quantitative assays. In TLC based antioxidant assay, Methanol extracts exhibited maximum number of antioxidant bands followed by ethyl acetate and chloroform extract in BEA(Benzene: Ethanol : Ammonium hydroxide (90:10:1) solvent. Amongst the quantitative assays methanol extract showed good antioxidant activity(>80%) (DPPH and FRAP assays). Presence of Withaferin and withanoloides was also detected in the seed extracts. Results are discussed.

Keywords: Withania somnifera, seeds, antioxidant, Phytochemical, DPPH, FRAP, Withanoloides.