Methanolic and ethanolic phytochemical screening of Sweet flag (Acorus calamus L.) rhizome.

Acorus calamus is a medicinal plant with several ethno-medicinal properties. The present study was carried to screen the presence of major phytochemical groups. Phytochemical screening of methanolic and ethanolic rhizome extract showed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, phenolic compound, protein, amino acid flavanoids and tannins. The total phenolic content in methanolic and ethanolic rhizome extracts in terms of gallic acid equivalent was 4.77.50 and 7.5 mg/g of extract powder respectively whereas the total flavonoid content of methanolic and ethanolic extract was 12.02 and 12.89 mg QE/g of extract respectively. Total antioxidant activity was found highest in ethanol extract (75.6 μg AAE/mg of extract) than methanol extract (37.2 μg AAE/mg of extract). Reducing power is also found highest in ethanol extract than methanol extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]