Phytochemical Screening and Pharmacological Evaluation of Colocasia esculenta stolon

Abstract

Medicinal plants have played a noteworthy role in various ancient traditional systems of medication. Recently, plants provided an inexpensive source of drugs for most of the world’s population. The medicinal significance of a plant is due to the existence of chemical constituents like alkaloids, glycosides, resins, volatile oils, gums, tannins etc. Colocasia esculenta is a vegetative propagated tropical root having its origin in Southeast Asia. It occupies 9th position among world food crops with its cultivation spread across Africa. Taro tubers are important sources of carbohydrates as an energy source and are used as staple foods in tropical and subtropical countries. It is largely produced for its underground corms and contains 70–80% starch. At first the extraction of the plant stolons is done by drying it and crushed it in fine powder with solvents from low polarity towards high polarity likewise n- hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water by using Rotary shaker. Then the phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content and invitro anti-inflammatory activity was performed. This evaluation helps in the investigation show compounds that may help combat many harmful diseases. C. esculenta stolon’s methanolic extract showed strong antioxidant activity by blocking DPPH. Additionally, it was discovered that the extract includes substantial amounts of total phenols and flavonoids. The findings of these investigations suggest that C. esculenta stolon methanolic extract has effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.