Phytochemical Screening And Antioxidant Capacity Of Berberis asiatica Root

Abstract

Medicinal plants have bioactive compounds which may be used to curing of various diseases. In the present investigation, a lesser-known medicinal plant Berberis asiatica root extracts were studied. Phytochemical screening for the metabolites was accomplished with extracts prepared in five different solvents methanol, ethanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and deionized water. The methanolic extract was found good for extraction. Therefore, it was subjected to antioxidant capacity measurement. Phytochemical screening revealed the occurrence of tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids and the absence of steroids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, phenols, and terpenoids. Antioxidant measurements showed Berberis asiatica root contains significant amounts of antioxidant compounds.