Comparative Study of Metals and Phytochemical Screening in Aqueous and Acetone Extracts of Calotropis Procera and Ajuga Bracteosa

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and phytochemical activities and metal contents from leaves, flowers and roots of regional Aak (Calotropis procera Ait.) and Hari Boti (Ajuga Bracteosa Wall.). Distilled water and acetone solvents were used to extract the antioxidants and phytochemical constituents. Diverse antioxidant and phytochemical activities such as flavonoid, phenolic, and flavonol contents, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), OH°, and H2O2 scavenging activities, Fe +2 chelating action, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), ascorbic acid and phosphomolybdenium complex essay were performed by using reported methods. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to evaluate the different metals such as Pb, Cd, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mg and K. The flavonoid contents (expressed as rutin equivalents) stated as 12.01-82.56 mg/g dry weight were higher than phenolic contents (expressed as gallic acid equivalents) quantified as 26.60-66.60 mg/g dry weight. Ajuga bracteosa extracts exhibited significant DPPH and OH radical scavenging activities. In all the analyzed samples, the highest concentration of iron (27.97 mg/L) was displayed by roots of Ajuga Bracteosa. Health risk index (HRI) revealed that level of Cd in roots and flowers of Calotropis procera and in flowers of Ajuga bracteosa was not safe for the consumption of humans as its concentration exceeded permissible limit.