Evaluation of Secondary Metabolites and Determination of Antioxidant Activity of Indigofera Trita

To quantify the major secondary metabolites and the antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of Indigofera trita. The methanolic whole plant extract of Indigofera trita (MIT) was analaysed by HPLC and GC to determine various Phytochemicals. Free radicals scavenging activity of extract by using DPPH, NO and Super oxide radicals generated in vitro. The Methanolic extract of I. trita was found to contain alkaloids (1.55gm/gm), terpenoids (0.98mg/gm), phenols (6.27mg/gm) and flavonoids (1.007mg/gm). The major flavonoid detected was quercetin and rutin. The MIT was found to possess significant radical scavenging activity against DPPH, No and superoxide anions the IC50 value of 52.0 μg/ml, 52.0μg/ml and 52.6μg/ml respectively and comparable to that of their corresponding IC50 value. The medicinal property of Indigofera trita may be attributed to the presence of Flavonoids and phenolic compounds with rich antioxidant potential. The therapeutic effect of this plant may be accounted for its counteracting action on free radicals in vivo. Key wards: Indigofera trita, Phytochemicals, free radical, scavenging activity Introduction Natural therapy for various human ailments purified with plant products has gained much attention now days, due to various side effects associated with allopathic medicine these can be derived from any part of the plant like bark, leaves, stem, flowers, roots, seeds, etc., [1]. Medicinal plants are believed to be an important source of new chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects [2]. Free radicals play an important role in various pathological conditions such as tissue injury, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and aging. The Compound that can scavenge free radicals has great potential in ameliorating these diseases [3]. Inflammation is a disorder characterized by invasion of leucocytes and production of proinflammatory cytokines [4]. Indigofera trita commonly known as punalmurunkai and kattuavuri is widely distributed in India, Ceylon, South Africa and North Austrilia [5]. The entire plant is traditionally used by tribes and native medicinal practioners to treat diseases such as inflammation, tumor, liver diseases [6] Literature review revealed that the plant I. trita is having antitumor [7] hepatoprotective, anitioxidant [8] Based on above details the present study is aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity of MIT by using in vitro models of free radicals. Taxonomy Fig 1 : Indigofera trita linn Kingdom : Plantae