HPTLC studies were carried out following Wagner et al.18 The extracts were dissolved in methanol 100 mg/0.5 ml. Then, 10, 20 and 30 μl of the samples were loaded
as 8 mm band length in the Silica Gel 60 F254 TLC Plate selleck using Hamilton Syringe and CAMAG Linomat 5 instrument. The sample loaded plate was kept in TLC saturation chamber for saturation with mobile phase. The mobile phase used for separation of flavonoids was Ethyl Acetate:Formic acid:Glacial Acetic Acid:Water at the ratio of 10:0.5:0.5:1.3 and for saponins Chloroform:Glacial acetic acid:Methanol:Water at a ratio 6.4:3.2:1.2:0.8. The developed plate was dried using hot air and sprayed with Anisaldehyde Sulphuric Acid reagent (ASA) for flavonoid and saponins. The plate was kept in photo documentation chamber CAMAG Visualizer: 150503 and images were captured images at 254 nm, 366 nm, visible light and after spraying with ASA using a Digital camera DXA252: 306921208,
16 mm scanner & Lens f4.0. The preliminary phytochemical estimation of D. esculentum showed the presence of secondary metabolites like flavonoids, saponins and protein ( Table this website 1). ABTS radical scavenging activity is widely used as an essential parameter to monitor the antioxidant activity of plant extracts. The method is based on the ability of antioxidant molecules to quench the ABTS radical cation (ABTS+)19 and excessive presence of antioxidant potential leads Org 27569 to rapid discolouration of the greenish blue complex. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of D. esculentum at 250 μg/ml showed 52.29% and 57.84% inhibition
respectively. The concentration equivalent to standard ascorbic acid of the aqueous extract at 250 μg/ml showed 28.92 μg/ml whereas the concentration of the ethanolic extract at 250 μg/ml was equivalent to 32.25 μg/ml ( Table 2). Another important prospective in assessing the antioxidant activity is to scavenge the hydrogen peroxide radical that mostly form in the oxidative stress conditions. It is a non-radical form of reactive oxygen species that is formed in living organisms by superoxide dismutase Kerr et al.20 and 21 Plant products by various enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanism of action can scavenge these hydroxyl radicals and protect the cells and biomolecules against reactive oxygen species.22 In the present study the ethanolic extract at 250 μg/ml showed 40.21% inhibition whereas the aqueous extract at 250 μg/ml showed 38.07% inhibition of hydrogen peroxide. Ascorbic acid was used as standard which at a highest concentration of 25 μg/ml showed 50% inhibition of hydrogen peroxide (Fig. 1). Phenols which are aromatic ring structured compounds23 play important role in biological as well as pharmacological studies. These are chemically synthesized by plants as secondary metabolites by following the shikimic acid pathway.24 For quantification of phenols in D.