Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Syzygium cumini L. Fruit Extracts

Phytochemical investigation was carried out on four successive extracts (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol andwater) of Syzygium cumini Linn. (black jamun) fruit parts. The extractive yield increased with increasing polarity of solvents. Preliminary phytochemical screening indicated presence of alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinones, flavanoids, glycosides, phenol, saponins, steroids, tannins, triterpenoids, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities in pulp, kernel, seedand seed coat of this fruit. The different extracts showed presence of following compounds in various fruit parts. The seed and kernel contained more of alkaloids, flavanoids and glycosides and fruit pulp contained more of anthraquinones, glycosides, saponins and triterpenoids. Antioxidant activity was recorded high in seed and their parts when extracted inmethanol and water. Petroleum ether and ethyl acetate fractions showed poor in antioxidant activity in all fruit parts. Antidiabetic activity of methanol fraction is found to be high followed by the water fraction particularly in seed and kerneltissues. Among the fruit parts, seed had high antidiabetic activity followed by the kernel. Pulp tissues have antidiabeticactivity in methanol fraction.