Phytochemical Study, Phenolic Assay and Antioxidant Capacity of Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) Root Extract

The Vetiver plant scientifically known as "Chrysopogon zizanoides", belongs to the Poaceae family and shows high adaptability to different environmental conditions. The plant was introduced as Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) by the World Bank and is being promoted worldwide for the protection of the environment. The aim of this research was to identify the phytochemical constituents present in the root of Vetiver, measurement of secondary metabolites and investigation of the antioxidant properties of its ethanolic extract. In order to identify the chemical compounds present in the root, various phytochemical analyses and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were utilized. The quantity of secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids and flavonol of the Vetiver root was determined by spectroscopy methods. The data shows that extracts of Vetiver root contains bioactive compounds belonging to various families such as tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and saponins. In the tests conducted it was shown that by increasing the density of Vetiver root extracts, the quantity of phenolics, flavonoid, flavonol and antioxidant capacity significantly increased. The high rate of production of phenylpropanoid compounds with high antioxidant capacity is very important in the adaptability of plants under unfavorable cultivation conditions. Based on these results, Vetiver may be used as a source of antioxidants in the isolation of active ingredients and drug manufacturing to treat diseases caused by oxidative stress. Based on these results, the Vetiver can be attention as a natural source of antioxidants in the isolation of active compounds and production drugs to treat diseases caused by oxidative stress