EVALUATION OF TOTAL PHENOLIC, FLAVANOID AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OF PIPER NIGRUM

The present study was carried out to evaluate the total phenolic, flavanoid and antioxidant activities of different extracts of P.nigrum seeds. The seeds of P.nigrum were extracted with methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and nhexane to obtain crude methanol extract (CME), ethyl acetate extracts (CEE), chloroform extract (CCE) and nhexane extract (CNE). Phytochemical screening showed total phenolic and flavanoid contents of different extracts. The highest phenolic and flavanoid content was found in CEE (62.88 ±1.4 mg/g GAE) and CCE (53.64 ±1.1 mg/g catechin equivalent) respectively. The antioxidant potential was evaluated in terms of DPPH radical scavenging potential and total antioxidant capacity by specific standard procedures. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of CME and CEE were better than CCE and CNE but less than that of BHT (standard). The IC50 value of CME, CEE, CCE and CNE were 57.5, 61, 107 and 162.5 ?g/ml respectively compared to the IC50 value of standard BHT (3 ?g/ml). The total antioxidant activity of CME was higher than the other fraction but less than that of catechin (standard). So, these results suggest the P.nigrum as a moderate medicine against free-radical-associated oxidative damage. Key words: phenolics, flavanoids, Piper Nigrum.