Comparative analysis of leaf and tuber extracts of Alpinia Calcarata

Abstract

Phytochemical screening of leaf and tuber revealed the presence of essential secondary metabolites. Acetone and methanol extracts of tuber were rich in most of the metabolites like saponins, flavonoid, steroids and tannin whereas leaf extracts showed the presence of tannin, saponins and flavonoids.  Chloroform and methanol extracts of tuber showed mild cytotoxic activity using brine shrimp assay. Antioxidant scavenging property was higher in methanol extract of leaf i.e. 80.68% in DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Nitric oxide scavenging activity was maximum in tuber of hexane extract i.e. 52.36%. According to the study cytotoxic activity and free radical scavenging property, methanolic extract of A. calcarata leaf was found promising and hence warrants further analysis.