Evaluation Of Chemical Compositions And Antioxidant Properties Of Mentha Spicata And Cymbopogon Citratus Leaves

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of chemical composition of C. citratus and M. spicata, gave the following proximate composition on dry weight basis: moisture; (1.67±0.29%) and (2.67±0.29%), ash; (7.52±0.30%) and (24.4±0.35%), crude lipid; (6.67±0.28%) and (6.17±0.27%), crude fibre; (24.67±0.29%) and (2.67±0.29%), crude protein;(17.44±0.12%) and (25.32±0.13%), available carbohydrate (42.03±0.32%) and (39.78±1.11%), energy value; (297.91) and (315.93) respectively. The samples contain mineral elements, (mg/100g); Na; 15.83±0.38 and 13.17±0.38, K; 610±20.00 and 646±11.55, P; 0.32±0.01 and 0.33±0.01, Ca; 0.05±0.01 and 0.07±0.01, Mg; 6.41±0.01 and 6.94±0.02, Cu; 0.06±0.03 and 0.04±0.02, Fe; 0.08±0.01 and 0.37±0.03, Mn; 0.03±0.01 and 0.11±0.02, Zn; 0.15±0.02 and 0.32±0.01 respectively. Eight phytochemicals were qualitatively tested out of which six were confirm present, with concentration of alkaloid;(mg/100g) 3.20±0.60, and 7.60±0.20, tannins;(mg/100g) 4.73±0.08 and 8.52±0.40, phenolics;(mg/100g) 76.80±2.50 and 96.72±10.01, flavonoid;(mg/100g) 74.59±05.97 and 94.33±6,65 proanthocyanidin;(mg/100g) 12.83±01.77 and 10.51±0.90 for C.citratus and M. spicata respectively. Both the samples show antioxidant activities of 52% and 56% using Hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assay. The samples shows various components of essential oil. The phytochemical and mineral content of both plants justify their medicinal value. The result further indicated the potential of the two samples as sources of therapeutic agents.