Proximate evaluation and Assessment of Antioxidant activity of Mucuna pruriens leaf extract

Abstract

Mucuna pruriens also known as a velvet bean belonging to the Fabaceae family which is a miraculous plant. Plants from Fabaceae or Leguminosae family are known to have multiple nutritional factors and different constituents showing therapeutic importance. Researchers have investigated few of the aspects with the seeds of the said plant. In the current research, overall profiling of leaves has been focused. Proximate analysis gives the general profile of the plant revealing valuable and important information about quality of the plant part used. It provides information on organic and inorganic matter with respect to moisture content, ash content, volatile matter content, ash, fixed carbon, content of some biomolecules etc. which can be responsible for pharmacological effect. Qualitative estimation of phytoconstituents showed the predominant presence of alkaloids, tannins, cardiac glycosides and terpenoids. Elemental analysis of plant leaves also revealed the information on presence of some essential metals like Manganese, Copper, Cobalt and Zinc. Significant anti-oxidant activity shown by the plant leaf extracts was assessed by DPPH and FRAP assay.