Abstract:
Daturametel is a medicinal plant used in indigenous system for treating bronchial asthma. In
addition it is mentioned as a rejuvenating herb in Siddha texts. However there are no
scientific studies carried out so far on Daturametel. This study was conducted to find the
antioxidant potential of Daturametel by estimating the total phenolic content (TPC).
The plant was obtained from Government herbal garden and authenticated taxonomically by
an authorized person. Leaf, stem, root and flower were separated from plant immediately
after collection and washed thoroughly with tap water and dried in sun shade. Dried parts
were powdered by multi fine grinder and stored air tight. For cold water extract, 10mg of
powder of each part was crushed with 10mL distilled water and centrifuged for ten minutes at
5000rpm. Supernatant was taken carefully. Hot water extract was prepared in same manner,
but additionally it was kept in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes. TPC was estimated by using
Folin and Ciocalteu‘s phenol reagent. This study was carried out in six times with six
different seasonal collection of Daturametel.
The total phenolic content in hot water extracts of leaf, stem, root and flower were 33.3mg ±
3.51, 30.67 mg± 2.1, 30.34mg ± 1.98 and 35.41mg ± 2.65 tannic acid equivalent/g dry
weights respectively. It was little higher than that extracted with cold water extract (30.7mg ±
3.19, 26.26mg ± 1.77, 27.01mg ± 2.61, and 31.02mg ± 2.26 tannic acid equivalent/g dry
weight) indicating a better extraction of phenolic compounds from the all parts at higher
temperature. Flower showed highest TPC in μmol/g dry weight in cold as well as in hot water
extract. All parts of the plant showed nearly equal TPC
