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8225150 
Journal Article 
Evaluation of phytochemicals and antioxidant activities of Remusatia vivipara (Roxb.) Schott., an edible genus of Araceae 
Asha, D; Nalini, MS; Shylaja, MD 
2013 
5 
5 
120-128 
English 
The present investigation deals with the evaluation of phytochemicals, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and total carbohydrates in plant parts of Remusatia vivipara, an edible member of araceae collected from the natural forests of Western Ghats, southern India. Kupchan partition method was used for the extraction of the plant materials in hexane, chloroform and methanol. Phytochemicals were tested for the presence or absence of tannins, saponinş flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, anthraquinones, phlobatannins, glycosides, reducing sugars and alkaloids in solvent fractions. Total phenolic content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) method employing Gallic acid as standard. Total carbohydrates were determined by phenol sulphuric acid method. Radical scavenging was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Phytochemical screening of plant parts revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, reducing sugars and alkaloids in polar solvents viz., water and methanol. Hexane extract showed the presence of reducing sugars and chloroform revealed the presence of flavonoids and reducing sugars. High phenolic contents were detected in leaf and root (42-44 μg/mL GAE), while in tuber the phenolic content was 12 μg/mLGAE. High carbohydrate content was estimated in tuber compared to leaf. The antioxidant potentials of plant parts ranged from 73 to 78%. The IC50 values for leaves and root extracts were 1.71 μg/mL. Although, tuber extracts exhibited low phenolic content, the IC50 value was 7 μg/mL. Results indicate the presence of potential phytochemicals in the aqueous extracts of R. vivipara plant parts, which in turn endorses its edible value as food source among the communities residing in Western Ghats. 
Antioxidant activity; Araceae; Phytochemicals; Remusatia vivipara; Total phenolic content; Western ghats