PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS

Abstract

Medicinal plants represent a significant source of bioactive secondary metabolites with potential therapeutic applications, particularly as natural antioxidants. The present study investigates the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of selected medicinal plant species using standardized extraction and analytical methods. Dried plant materials were subjected to solvent extraction using methanol and ethanol to obtain crude extracts rich in phytoconstituents. Quantitative analysis of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) was performed using spectrophotometric techniques, while antioxidant capacity was evaluated through DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS decolorization, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The results demonstrated notable variability among plant species, with higher phenolic and flavonoid contents generally associated with stronger antioxidant activity. However, the relationship was not uniformly consistent, indicating the contribution of other bioactive compounds and possible synergistic effects. While the findings support the potential of medicinal plants as sources of natural antioxidants, the reliance on crude extracts and in vitro assays limits direct pharmacological interpretation. Further studies involving compound isolation, structural characterization, and in vivo validation are required to substantiate their therapeutic efficacy.