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, M n; 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±0.0 8 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 activiti es 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.