Antioxidant activity and GC-MS analysis of Bauhinia variegata L. (fabaceae)

Bauhinia variegata L. is reported to have medicinal properties in traditional literature. The antioxidant activities of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts were evaluated by the DPPH method, phoshomolybdenum assay, reducing power method. Characterization of leaf ethanolic extract was done by GC-MS. The major compounds identified by GC-MS are cyclopropanebutanoic acid, 2-[[2-[[2-[(2-pentylcyclopropyl) methyl] cyclopropyl]methyl] cyclopropyl]methyl] and minor compounds are, 2,7-Diphenyl-1,6-dioxopyridazino[4,5 :2’,3’]pyrrolo[4’,5’-d]pyridazine, Ethyl iso-allocholate, Dasycarpidan-1-methanol, acetate. The compounds identified in this study have pharmacological value, anti-microbial properties and show anti-oxidant activity.