PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDY OF CARICA PAPAYA LEAF EXTRACT AS INHIBITORS OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES

Abstract

Natural antioxidants in plants, vegetables and fruits, such as alkaloids, flavonoids and phenols have been associated with the prevention of several degenerative mechanisms. The extraction of plant constituents is essential to isolate biologically active compounds. The identification of components is important to understand their role on the treatment of various anomalies. Carica papaya belonging to the Caricaceae family is an effective medicinal herb that is being used as a folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases throughout the world. The present study has been carried out to explore the preliminary phytochemicals and physicochemical analysis of 70% Methanolic extract of Carica papaya leaf. The physicochemical screening of carbohydrate, protein, fats and oils, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids, glycosides and flavonoids was conducted. The tests were conducted in triplicate and quantitative determination of the various metabolites (i.e. Total Phenols, Flavonoids and Tannins) was done using respective analytical standards (Gallic acid, Quercetin and Tannic acid respectively). The total antioxidant activity was also evaluated using different models of free radical assay (i.e. DPPH, Superoxide and H2O2 scavenging assay). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of Carbohydrate, Proteins, Steroids, Triterpanoids, Flavonoids, Phenolic Compounds, Tannins, Alkaloids, Saponins and Fats in 70% Methanolic Carica papaya leaf extract. Enough content of phenols, flavonoids and tannins was also observed in quantitative analysis which was resulted into free radical scavenging properties in different assays. In conclusion Carica papaya leaf extracts are the reserve of important phytochemical leading to antioxidative supremacy. Present study can give support to develop quality standards using Carica papaya leaf and useful in drug development to mitigate various abnormal conditions.