Ritu Shukla, Dinesh C Sharma, Neelam Pathak and Priti Bajpai
Grewia asiatica Linn. (Grewoideae) has been recognized as a traditional plant for the curing of various human disorders. The aim of present study was to evaluate different extracts (n-hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous) of fruit for estimation of phytoconstituents and antioxidant activity. Our results illustrated that methanol fruit extract exhibited strong antioxidant potential by DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl- 2- picrylhydrazyl) 90.1% (IC50-62.75 ± 0.069 μg), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) 65.98% (224 ± 0.032 μg), superoxide 71.1% (IC50-53.6 ± 0.05 μg) and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential) assay 7.68 ± 0.04 μmole Fe(II)/mg) generated free radicals. Furthermore, linear correlation studies have been performed between total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and FRAP assay, which determine the regression coefficient as 0.827 and 0.956 (respectively for total phenolic content and total flavonoid content). Moreover, methanol extract exhibited significant OH radical scavenging 91.1% (IC50 43.80 ± 0.03 μg). Altogether, the present study revealed methanol fruit extract as a potential source of antioxidants used in an ethno-medical system, explanatory for therapeutic application of free-radical-induced diseases. Methanol extract was also identified as 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl); 2,3-dihydro-3,5- dihydroxy-6-methyl-4h-pyran; Cis-vaccenic acid majorly by Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry analysis.