Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT, CYTOTOXIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ACTIVITY OF SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF ZINGIBER ZERUMBET

Pragnyasini Rout and Sunita Bhatnagar*

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Abstract

Zingiber zerumbet belongs to family Zingiberaceae. Rhizomes of the plant are used in medicine and ornamental purposes. In the present study leaf extracts of the plant were explored for their phytochemical, cytotoxic and antioxidant properties. Extracts of leaf of the species showed the presence of medicinally active metabolites like alkaloids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. Methanol extract showed antioxidant activity equivalent to the standard in DPPH radical scavenging assay. All the extracts exhibited mild cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp larvae.

Keywords: Zingiber zerumbet, brine shrimp assay, TLC, Methanol extract, DPPH, antioxidant.