Estimation of toxic heavy metals and antioxidant potential of Robinia pseudoacaia

About author
Wajaht A Shah*and Bilal A Bhat
Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, J & K-190006, India.

Abstract
The present contribution was aimed to evaluate antioxidant potential of Robinia pseudoacaia, Furthermore, this study was also aimed to estimate quantitatively toxic heavy metals. Robinia pseudoacaia  (Fabaceae) is one of the medicinal plant , Native to north America commonly distributed in various region of Kashmir. The plant is used as an antispasmodic, febrifuge, antioxidant, diuretic, emollient, etc. Antioxidant activity was assessed as free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) towards 2, 2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radicals. Estimation of toxic heavy metals was performed by using atomic absorption spectrometery. The physicochemical parameters were done  by standard procedures. The percentage scavenging effects of ethyl acetate on DPPH radical were 12.89 %, 15.74 %, 19.36 % at 50 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, 200 µg/ml respectively. Whereas methanolic extract showed IC₅₀ value 210.82 µg/ml.  Total ash was found to be 8.4gm%. Water soluble ash 6.0gm%, alcohol soluble matter 16.6 gm%, acid insoluble ash 7.4% and the moisture content i.e loss of drying at 105 ^oc was found 6.7 gm%. The quantity of lead, cadmium, cobalt was found 0.042 ppm, 0.002 ppm, 0.1ppm  respectively. Robinia pseudoacaia possessed significant antioxidant activity and contained safe levels of toxic heavy metals. It should be noted such study is first report from the Robinia pseudoacaia,
Key words: AAS, DPPH, Robinia pseudoacaia