Antioxidant Capacity and Lipophilic Constitution of Alternanthera bettzickiana Flower Extract A.J.A. PETRUS1*, K. KALPANA and A. BHARADHA DEVI

Alternanthera bettzickiana (Regel) Nicolson is an erect herb and an ornamental pot plant, which is recorded to be useful in purifying and nourishing blood. It is also claimed to be a soft laxative, a galactagogue and an antipyretic in addition to its wound healing property. The leaves are reported to be used like spinach and in soups. The lipophilic acetone extract of the fresh flowers exhibited in vitro antioxidant/radical scavenging (ABTS•+ and FRAP assays) and metal (Ferrous ion) chelating capacities. The extract has been analysed to contain eighteen saturated and four unsaturated hydrocarbons, ten saturated, three monounsaturated and one polyunsaturated esters of fatty acid, in addition to a saturated and an unsaturated higher alcohol and a fatty aldehyde, together with a monoterpene and nine acyclic diterpenes and a steroid. -Tocopherol and tocopherol--D-mannoside are the principal vitamin E identified in combination with pairs of cyclohexenones and benzofuranones as well as five phthalates.