ABSTRACT:
Muntingia calabura L is a flowering plant native to southern mexico, central america, Caribbean, western to south America. The timber of Jamaican cherry is reddish-brown, compact, durable, light weight and used in carpentry, firewood. The bark gives ropes and fiber for bark skirts. The stem of Muntingia calabura was studied in the present study for its phytochemical analysis both qualitatively and quantitatively and also for its behavior with different chemicals, fluorescence, nutrient content and also for its secondary metabolites, antioxidant activities. Among the phytochemicals assessed, the carbohydrate, glycosides, tannin, phenolic compounds, proteins and aminoacids showed strong reactions, whereas, moderate reaction was observed with rest of the phytochemicals. Positive result was observed with fluorescence study. The total yield obtained from 1gm powder was 6.0 % with stem. The carbohydrate content of the root was found to be 355.0 ± 0.00mg/g. The protein, amino acid content was 423.33 ± 2.88mg/g, 406.66 ± 2.88mg/g. The behavior of the extract powder was positive for alkaloids, proteins, flavonoids, anthroquinone. The total phenolics content (386.66 ± 5.77mg/g) was higher when compared to total flavonoids 376.66 ± 5.77 mg/g. Likewise, the antioxidant activity was higher with Metal chelating activity and lower with hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity,