Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and In Vitro Antioxidant Efficacy of Fruit Oil of Martynia annua

The free radicals play vital role in induction of various diseases. Natural antioxidants may help the body to protect itself from various types of oxidative damage which are linked to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and aging. Martynia annua belonging to Martyniaceae family are found to be a rich source of substances of phytochemical interest. The aim of the present study was to screen for phytoconstituent, and to determine the in vitro antioxidant activity of fruit oil of M. annua. The oil were extracted from fruit of M. annua by employing traditional methods.  Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed to identify secondary metabolites in extracted oils. The in vitro antioxidant activity of oil was measured by means of the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Super oxide free radical scavenging assay and total polyphenol content. The phytochemical investigation of oil of M. annua revealed the presence of Alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, fats, tannins and phenolic compound. The oil strongly scavenged DPPH radical and superoxide radical with the IC50 being 87.56 µg/ml and 106.80 µg/ml respectively. The oil of M. annua exhibited 87.25±1.13 mg/100 gm of total polyphenol content. The outcomes justifies the oil of M. annua is a potential source of natural antioxidants.