ASSESSMENT OF PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF Morus nigra AND Artocarpus heterophyllus LEAVES

During the present study, methanolic extract of M. nigra and A. heterophyllus leaves were analyzed for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity by in vitro methods. The preliminary phytochemical studies showed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins in both plants while alkaloids and saponins were missing. Determination of antioxidant activity was carried out by total antioxidant assay, iron chelating assay, reducing power assay and DPPH radical scavenging assay. Anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was evaluated by membrane stabilisation method. The results showed that both plants possess high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in a dose dependent manner. M. nigra and A. heterophyllus extracts were found to have large amounts of phenolics (38.46 mgGAE/gram and 164.04 mgGAE/gram respectively) and flavonoids (74.92 mgQE/gram and 68.15 mgQE/gram respectively) which probably the key towards its high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Owing to the high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property of these plants, they can thus be used for the development of drugs against oxidative stress associated diseases.