DETERMINATION OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF RHUS JAVANICA LINN.

Objective: The present work presents determination of physicochemical parameters of the leaves and the antioxidant properties of methanolic extract of leaves, fruits and bark of Rhus javanica L. Methods: The leaves of Rhus javanica L. was used for the determination of physicochemical parameters using standard protocol. The leaves, fruits and bark of the plant were extracted successively with petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol. The methanolic extracts were used to determine the antioxidant properties. The radical scavenging activity was determined with different methods like DPPH, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. The reducing power was determined by reduction of ferric cyanide complex (Fe3+) to the ferrous cyanide form (Fe2+). Total phenols and flavonoids concentrations were analysed using Folin-Ciocalteu’s and aluminium chloride methods. Results: The moisture content, extractive value (alcohol and water), total ash, acid insoluble ash and water-soluble ash were 0.29%, 24.502%, 19.314%, 8.2%, 0.45% and 4.75% respectively. The fruit extract exhibits the highest scavenging activity presented as percentage inhibition, 75.00±0.89% (100 μg/ml) for DPPH free radical and 74.7±0.68% (100 μg/ml) for hydrogen peroxide radical. The standard BHT (100 μg/ml) shows 78.5±0.43% inhibition for DPPH free radical and 82.5±0.50% inhibition for hydrogen peroxide free radical. The leaves show the highest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, 65.00±0.40% (100 μg/ml) while the standard Ascorbic acid exhibit 73.81±0.61% (100 μg/ml) inhibition. The highest reducing power was shown by the bark extract but lower than the standard Ascorbic acid. The bark extract shows the highest phenolic and flavonoid content 49.86 mg GAE/g and 19.38 mg QE/g respectively of the dry weight of the extract. Conclusion: The results of quantitative pharmacognostic parameters in this study is expected to be useful for setting standards for correct identification of the plant. The radical scavenging properties, total phenolic and flavonoid content also suggest that the extracts provide substantial antioxidant activities.