PHYTOCHEMICAL, NUTRITIONAL, IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIDIABETIC STUDIES OF Andrographis Paniculata (Acanthaceae)

This study evaluated the in-vitro antioxidant, in-vitro antidiabetic and phytochemical constituents of the methanolic leaves extract of Andrographis paniculata leaves. Fresh A. paniculata leaves were harvested from a local community, air-dried and extracted with methanol and fractionated. Phytochemical constituents, mineral and proximate composition, antioxidant activities, and α-amylase enzyme inhibitory potentials of the crude extract and fractions were determined using standard method. The crude extract and fractions of A. paniculata concentration-dependently scavenges 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with IC50 range of 45.23 - 93.26 μg/mL compared to 1.02 μg/mL of standard ascorbic acid and a range of 22.4 – 22.7 mMFeS/g for the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The crude extract and fractions also inhibited α -Amylase activity in a concentration-dependent manner within a range of 23.41– 48.85% against 30.79–45.63% for the standard (acarbose). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various phytochemicals in the crude extract. Further analysis of the crude extract with gas-chromatography revealed the presence of about 33 compounds. The total phenolics content was found to be within range of 26.63mg GAE/g to 50mg GAE/g, and total flavonoid between 31.96 mg QE/g to 46.15 mg QE/g. Proximate analysis revealed the moisture content, crude protein, crude fat, total ash, crude fiber, and nitrogen free extract to be 6.97%, 8.62%, 4.03%, 6.33%, 27.67%, and 46.38% respectively. The anti- diabetic and antioxidant potentials of the plant and presence of phytochemicals infers that the effectiveness of A. paniculata as a medicinal plant could be due to the presence of various phenolics, antihyperglycemic and antioxidant compounds in the plant.