Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities of Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis)

Abstract

Fresh Aloe vera leaves were collected from Itahari, Sunsari district Nepal and were well washed with distilled water and subjected to cabinet drying at 50°C until constant weight of sample was obtained. Thus, obtained dry powder was extracted using Soxhlet apparatus in two different solvents i.e. methanol and ethanol and further concentrated using rotatory vacuum evaporator that was used for Total Phenol Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) and tannin content determination. The mean values of methanolic and ethanolic extract were then statistically analyzed at 5% level of significance by paired t-test. Fresh Aloe vera leaves were extracted in 96% methanol to determine chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll- b and total carotene content. Similarly, 99% methanol was used to determine Total Antioxidant Capacity (TOAC), DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay of fresh Aloe vera leaves. Keywords: Aloe-Vera; Total Phenol Content; Total Flavonoid Content; Total Tannin Content; Antioxidant Activity