QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF TOTAL PHENOLICS AND TOTAL FLAVONOIDS IN LEAVES EXTRACT OF SARACA ASOCA (Roxb)

Saraca asoca is a evergreen plant, belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae. This plant is commonly known as Ashoka or Sita ashoka. This plant has many pharmacological activities. In ancient time asoca was used as medicinal plant to cure various diseases such as uterine fibroids, piles diabetes and many others. In the present study leaf extract of asoca in five different solvent was used for both qualitative and quantitative estimation. Qualitative analysis was done to trace the presence of various compounds where as the quantitative analysis was done to evaluate the concentration of them. Phenols are important compound for the plant because it plays important role in nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, protein synthesis and binds to the other substance such as cellulose, protein and others. Flavonoids have many biological activities and pharmacological activities such as anti-microbial, anti-inflamatory, anti-tumor and many others. Flavonoids occur frequently in nature and found in vegetables, fruits, tea, coffee and fruit drinks. Results of qualitative study showed that phenols were present in chloroform and methanol extract whereas flavonoids were present in methanol and aqueous extract. Results of quantitative analysis exhibited that methanolic extract contain higher phenolic level and chloroform contains lower phenolic level whereas flavanoids level was higher in distilled water and lower in petroleum ether extract. The concentration of phenolic and flavonoids remained in between the range of 0.03429 to 0.173477 mg GA/g and 10.175 to 16.3875 mg RU/g respectively. Keywords: Saraca asoca, phytochemicals, phenols, flavanoids, Quantitative analysis, Qualitative analysis.