NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SOLANUM NIGRAM AND OENOTHERA SPECIOSA FROM NORTHERN AREA OF PAKISTAN
We have trailed two important medicinal plants Solanum nigram and Oenethra speciosa for qualitative, physiochemical analysis as well as antioxidant activity. Phytochemical screenings of the ethanolic crude extracts were studied for secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, saponins, and phenols. The concentration of eight heavy metals Zinc (Zn), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Iron (Pb) and Lead (Pb) were determined. In comparison the concentration of all metals was high in Solanum nigram. The iron was in high amount 8.418 mg/L, while cobalt was in less amount 0.081 mg/L in Solanum nigram. While in Oenethra speciosa the iron was 5.192 mg/L which was higher value in all the metals in it, more over the Cadmium was not detected. The extracts of both plants showed anti-oxidant activity.