Phytochemical and antioxidant potential of Pterocarpus santalinus Linn

Pterocarpus santalinus Linn. f. belongs to the family Fabaceae. It is commonly known as Red sandal. It gives a nature dye called Santalin which is used in pharmaceutical preparations and foodstuffs. Traditionally it has many medicinal uses. In the present study, quantitative phytochemical analysis and antioxidant potential of leaf, stem and bark of P. santalinus was studied. The extraction was done by individual and successive cold percolation method in a number of solvents of varied polarity. Different parts showed different level of phytoconstituents and different antioxidant activities in different solvents. But best phytochemical content and antioxidant was in polar solvent methanol and acetone extracts evaluated by either method. All the three parts showed antioxidant potential hence P. santalinus leaf, stem and bark can be used as a natural source of antioxidant.