American-Eurasian Journal of Toxicological Sciences 6 (4): 120-122, 2014 ISSN 2079-2050 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejts.2014.6.4.91182 Corresponding Author: Vaijayanthimala Palanisamy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, SSM College of Pharmacy, Jambai, Erode, Tamilnadu, India. Tel: 9488376917. 120 Phytochemical and in vitro Antioxidant Activity of Trichosanthes cucurmena L. Vaijayanthimala Palanisamy, Sureshkumar Shanmugam and Sangameswaran Balakrishnan 1 2 1 SSM. College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Erode, Tamilnadu, India 1 J. K. K. Nattraja College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Komarapalayam, Tamilnadu, India 2 Abstract: Diversity of plants has attracted a vast contract of research interest in search of natural antioxidant activity. Many Plant materials having anti-oxidant properties are used in medicinal and preservative purposes. In current revise leaves of Trichosanthes cucurmena L. (Family: Cucurbitaceae) was extracted with two different solvents like petroleum ether (PETC) and ethanol extract (EETC) shows positive results for the presence of phytochemicals like Phenols, tannin, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponin, anthraquinone, triterpenoids and steroids etc. Ethanol extract (EETC) was subjected for antioxidant activity. In ethanol extract Antioxidants like phenolic compound and flavonoid content was found to be high. Hence EETC was selected for antioxidant activity and find out significant activity by scavenging DPPH free radical. This plant has the viewpoint of being a source of new clinically efficient antioxidant compounds. Key words: Trichosanthes cucurmena L. Antioxidant Phytochemical and DPPH INTRODUCTION resistant pathogenic strains are continuously emerging, The various living systems bear a rich biodiversity in development of new drugs [7, 8]. nature. Since the ancient era before scientific knowledge Most drugs hold many severe side effects. Many would change plants performed myriad functions of the medicines of natural foundation had been used since long biosphere. time without any severe adverse effects, however, a Among which utilize of plants in curing illness is well number of synthetic antioxidants and drugs are documented. But after the advance technology and commercially available, natural products still substitute improved scientific knowledge changed plants as a source most of the chemical agents. In the present study, solvent of therapeutic agents as they are able to offer, the extracts like PETC and EETC were evaluated for the purpose with lesser side effects that are frequently qualitative phyto-chemical analysis, in vitro and associated with synthetic antimicrobials [1]. It was antioxidant activity which may lead to the finding of most estimated that the current global market for plant-derived effective agent for the management of diseases and drugs is worth more than 20 billion and the market keep on effective potential source of natural antioxidant that may growing [2] Perusal of literatures reports the medicinal help in preventing various oxidative stresses. properties of most of the plants posture biological activity one of such species is T. cucumerina. (F. Cucurbitaceae) MATERIAL AND METHODS which has been exploited for many traditional medicinal use [3]. Drugs and Chemicals: All reagents procured were The plant extract also showed gastro protective analytical grade. activity [4]. The inhibiting effects on forming protein non- enzymatic glycation an end product was studied from the Plant Collection: Fresh leaves of T. cucumerina L., Was ethanolic leaf extract [5]. collected from field of Komarapalayam and authenticated The diversity of pathogenic bacteria is general and so by Dr.P. Satyanarayana, Scientist D & Head office in is the variety of diseases caused by them. Despite the charge, Southern Regional Centre, TNAU campus, survival of many potent antimicrobial agents [6], multi- Coimbatore. Voucher specimen (No: JKKNCP/0102/12) magnificent the need for a continuous search and