ANTIOXIDANT AND QUALITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL DETERMINATION OF INDIAN SPINACH (Basella alba)

Abstract

Indian spinach (Basella alba) is a widely consumed leafy vegetable known for its nutritional value and traditional medicinal applications. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Basella alba. Qualitative phytochemical   screening revealed the presence of flavonoids (++), phenols, alkaloids (++), glycosides (++), terpenoids (++), saponins (++), and triterpenoids (++), while carbohydrates and anthraquinones were absent. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, which showed percentage inhibition ranging from 42.41% to 99.12%, with a minimum standard deviation of 0.17. The total phenolic content (TPC) was highest at 50 mg/mL (85.14%) and lowest at 10 mg/mL (37.40%). The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay indicated relatively low reducing capacity, although activity increased with concentration. Although the antioxidant potency of the extract was lower than standard antioxidants, the presence of  bioactive phytochemicals supports the ethnomedicinal use of Basella alba as a functional food. These findings provide scientific evidence for its therapeutic potential and highlight the need for further studies to isolate active compounds and optimize extraction methods.