Abstract
Present investigation deals with the phytochemical and antioxidant studies of Hibiscus sabdariffa L., a medicinally important plant. Quantitative phytochemical studies highlighted the presence of quite good amount of antioxidant substances including two antioxidant enzymes in the leaf as well as fruiting calyx of this plant. In leaf, amount of ascorbic acid is 272 μg/g ; in calyx, it is 629 μg/g. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total carotenoids in leaf are of 45.1 μg/g, 8.7 μg/g and 12.5μg/g, respectively. Carotenoid content in calyx is almost double of the leaf content where it is 24.6 μg/g. The content of antioxidant enzymes like catalase and peroxidase in leaf is 3.72 EU/g and 3.21 EU/g , respectively. In calyx, amount of these enzymes is 3.98 EU/g and 4.19 EU/g. DPPH radical scavenging activity in leaf is 31.39 % and it is higher in calyx where the value is 36.87%. Total phenolic content of the calyx part is 38.7 mg/g which is higher than the phenolic content of leaf (32.8 mg/g). From the results it has clearly been observed that calyx part of this plant is more potent than leaf in respect of its antioxidant potential which can be used in health drink, as food additive or as nutraceuticals.
