Determination of chemical composition,total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Xylanthemum Macropodum

Evaluation of the phytochemistry,total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the endemic plant of northern balochistan xylanthemum macropodum of the asteraceae family,is reported for the first time in this document. chemical composition of xylanthemum macropodum was determined using well-established chemical tests and modern spectroscopic techniques. extracts were taken from the whole plant using methanol and the extracts were tested for phytochemicals (secondary metabolites),total phenolic content (tpc) and antioxidant activity. the phytochemical (biochemical) examination of xylanthemum macropodum exposed the presence of alkaloids,phenols,steroids,flavonoides,tannins,terpenoids,saponins,coumarins,carbohydrates,cardiac glycosides,reducing sugars,and quinines. tpc of crude methanolic extract (cme) of plant was determined using folin-ciocalteu's reagent. the tpc determined was 256mg of tannic acid eq/g of extract. antioxidant activities were determined spectrophotometrically using the dpph assay and ferric ion (fe+3) reducing antioxidant power assay. the potency of the dpph assay of xylanthemum macropodum extract was 68% for the 0.10 mg/ml concentration and the frap value of the extract was 3.368 mmol fe+2/g of extract. xylanthemum macropodum has proved to be very rich in secondary metabolites,natural phenolics and has a very potent antioxidant activity. © 2017,chemical society of pakistan. all rights reserved.