Studies on Phytoconstituents and Antioxidant Properties of Argemone mexicana Flower Extract

In present study, the presence of bioactive compounds in A. mexicana flowers were analyzed and also evaluated the in vitro antioxidant properties of A. mexicana flowers. The flower extract showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phytosterol, triterpenoids, glycosides, anthraquinones and phenols. The total phenolic and flavonoid content were found to be 25.40 ± 1.20 µg gallic acid equivalents and 14.30 ± 0.20 µg quercetin equivalents, respectively. The carbohydrate and protein content was found to be 4.10 ± 0.24 mg/g and 2.10 ± 0.30 mg/g of the flower extract respectively. HPLC analysis of A. mexicana flower extract revealed the presence of biologically active components such as gallic acid, rutin, caffeic acid, quercetin and ferulic acid. A. mexicana flower extract exhibited 81.33% inhibition in DPPH assay, 85% in ABTS radical assay, 86% superoxide scavenging, 76% NO scavenging, 75% hydroxyl radical scavenging, 77% radicals indicating hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging potential of the flower extract. The antioxidant activity observed in the ethanolic extarct of A. mexicana flower may be related to the presence of significant amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids. Hence, A. mexicana flower extract could serve as natural sources of antioxidants and could be used in the treatment of free radical mediated diseases.