Nyctanthes arbor ��� tristis Linn. (NAT) a herbal healer

Herbal plants and natural products have been widely used for therapeutic purposes. Usually medicinal plants are resource of bioactive principles used in preparations of medicines and perfumery products. Recently pharmacognosy of medicinal plants their uses and applications gained wide attention around the world. Generally they are safe and effective than the artificial products. In the present study the aqueous extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis leaf and stem evaluated to know its biological activity. Primary metabolites like carbohydrate glucose starch and protein are present in the leaf and stem extracts of Nyctanthes arbor- tristis. Among secondary metabolites alkaloid tannins steroids terpenoids flavonoids phenols are present in the aqueous extracts of NAT leaf and stem. Both aqueous extract of NAT stem and leaf showed a significant level of phenol content. In DPPH radical scavenging assay the NAT leaf extract showed the highest percentage inhibition than the stem. The NAT leaf extract showed more antiarthritic activity due to the highest inhibition of protein denaturation. The present data will help to understand the therapeutic use of NAT in various diseases.