Abstract

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF PHYLLANTHUS NIRURI AND PHYLLANTHUS RETICULATUS

Reetu Vishwakarma and Sunita Bhatnagar*

ABSTRACT

Leaf extracts of two Phyllanthus species were compared on the basis of their phytochemical, antioxidant and cytotoxic parameters. The acetone and methanol extracts of both the plants were quite similar and contained all the necessary secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, tannin, glycoside, steroids and carbohydrates. Hexane and chloroform extract showed the presence of alkaloid and saponins. Cytotoxic activity was ascertained using brine shrimp assay, Acetone extract of Phyllanthus reticulatus and Phyllanthus niruri exhibited more than 50% activity, remaining extracts were mildly active. Highest scavenging property against DPPH radical was estimated in acetone and methanol extract with IC50 value ranging from 25μg/ml to 12.5μg/ml. in both the species. Nitric oxide scavenging property was highest in methanolic extract of Phyllanthus reticulatus. Overall both the species were more or less similar in medicinal potential.

Keywords: DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl), NO scavenging assay (Nitric oxide), Bioassay, Column Chromatography, TLC (thin layer chromatography).