PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF TERMINALIA CHEBULA FRUIT GROWING IN BOKARO, JHARKHAND

Abstract

Terminalia chebula, commonly known as Haritaki, is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for its health benefits. The present study investigates the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of T. chebula fruit collected from Bokaro, Jharkhand. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified diverse compounds, including fatty acids, siloxanes, and phenolic derivatives. Key constituents include n-Hexadecanoic acid, Phenol derivatives, and Tetracosamethyl-cyclododecasiloxane. Antioxidant potential was assessed using DPPH and NBT assays, with the extract showing concentration-dependent activity. At 500 µg/mL, the extract exhibited 82.3% inhibition in the DPPH assay and 78.9% inhibition in the NBT assay, though less potent than the standard ascorbic acid. The findings suggest that the aqueous extract of T. chebula is a significant source of natural antioxidants, underlining its potential in therapeutic applications. Further exploration of its bioactive compounds could contribute to the development of novel antioxidant agents.