Pharmacognostic, physicochemical investigation and evaluation of anti-oxidant potential of fruit flesh extract of Terminalia catappa Linn

Terminalia catappa Linn. also known as Indian almond or tropical almond is a native throughout the tropical Asia belongs to family Combretaceae. Traditionally, the parts of this plant of are used for the treatment of dermatitis, hepatitis, diarrhea and pyresis, caribbeans used the decoction for gastritis and urinary tract infection. The present study aimed to evaluate the pharmacognostic and phytochemical properties along with the antioxidant activity of Teminalia catappa Linn. The fresh fruits of Teminalia catappa were collected and preliminary microscopic screening was done by evaluating the transverse section. The phytochemical screening of the fruit revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids. The phycochemical analysis also showed the total ash content 7.913% and was slightly higher than acid insoluble and water soluble ash. The fruit flesh was subjected to hydroalcoholic extraction to obtain a semisolid extract. The antioxidant activity was carried out by using DPPH radical scavenging assay spectrophotometrically at 517nm. The various concentration of fruit flesh extract (62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1000 ug/ml) were used and increasing antioxidant activity was observed with increasing concentration. About 41% scavenging activity for DPPH radical was observed at 1000 ug/ml.