Phytochemical Evaluation and Anti-oxidant Activity of Alpinia galangal linn.

Abstract

Introduction: The use of spices in the treatment of health problems has been a tradition in the world since early ages. Alpinia galanga is a well known medicinal plant in Southern Asia and has used for a long time. Because of its good aroma and taste, Alpinia galanga has been used widely for Asian cooking. Alpinia galangalis aromatic plants, enriched with bioactive compounds providing the usage for their therapeutic properties. In this study, the phytochemicals analysis, the anti-oxidant was done using Aerial parts extract of Alpinia galanga..

Objectives: To Investigate phytochemical evaluation on Aerial part of Alpinia galanga with various chemical tests of extracts and bioactive activity (anti-oxidant), in vitro assays such as Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging techniques.

Methods: The material and method was done such as successive soxhlet extraction, preliminary phytochemical screening, qualitative tests for the identification of various active constituents viz. Alkaloids, Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Phenolic compounds, Flavonoids, Protein and free amino acids, Saponins, Steroids, fixed oil, tannins and Phenolic, Inorganic chemicals etc, fluorescence analysis and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging techniques were used for anti-oxidant activity.

Results: Phytochemical investigations included successive soxhlet extraction; the obtained extractive values of aerial parts were found to be 2.64, 13.18 and 9.25 % from petroleum ether, methanol and aqueous solvent respectively. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates, tannins & glycosides, fixed oil & fats along with few inorganic constituents i.e. iron, sulphate, phosphate and chloride. The DPPH scavenging activity was directly correlated with the concentration of the extract. The lower the IC₅₀ value, the higher is the antioxidant activity, The FRAP results indicate that n-Hex and Methanolic fractions of Alpinia galanga may be useful for treating free radical related pathological damage.

Conclusions: Alpinia galanga belongs to the family Zingiberaceae with high medicinal values and used as traditional medicine. The whole plant is used for the treatment of various diseases. The Aerial part was dried and powdered and dissolved in alcoholic solvent. The study reveals that the extract contains many bioactive compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, steroids and also exhibit anti-oxidant activity. Further in vivo studies on the extract will provide us better understanding of traditional claims of Alpinia galanga as medicinal herb.