The present study was designed to evaluate relative contribution of different polyphenols (total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols) and their antioxidants activities in aqueous extracts of different parts of some plants; Argemone mexicana, Datura metel, Calotropis procera, Thevetia peruviana, and Cannabis sativa. The antioxidants (total phenolics, flavonoids, flavones) were determined by chemical methods. The antioxidant capacities of these extracts were evaluated by FRAP assay. The results demonstrated that phenolic content was maximally present in leaves of T. peruviana. This plant exhibited minimum phenolic content in its flower as compared to other plants. The flower of D. metel contained maximum phenolic content. The flavonoids were present in highest quantity in leaves of C. procera while T. peruviana flowers showed maximum flavonoid content. The fruits of C. sativa contained maximum quantity of flavonoid as compared to other plants tested. The flower extract of C. sativa possessed highest FRAP value followed by A. mexicana and fruit of C. procera. The values of ratios of different polyphenolic compounds present in plant extracts indicated that flower of D. metel contained maximum total flavonoids and minimum phenolics. These results suggested that levels of total phenolics, flavonoids and their FRAP indices exhibited specificity to different plants and their parts. 1. Introduction The extraction of plant constituents is essential to isolate biologically active compounds and in understanding their role in disease prevention and treatment and in knowing their toxic effects as well. However, meager information is available about the medicinal and pharmacological properties and biological activities of phytochemicals derived from some plants (Calotropis procera, Datura metal, Cannabis sativa, Argemone Mexicana, and Thevetia peruviana) commonly known to have toxic, narcotic and ornamental properties. The information available on these important plants indicates that not much attention has been paid towards studying their physicochemical properties as well as biological activities towards their potentials as antioxidants. Keeping this information in view, an endeavour has been made in this communication to determine some biochemical constituents and their properties into the aqueous extracts of aforesaid medicinally important plants commonly available in the northern part of India. Calotropis procera, known as apple of Sodom or mudar, belongs to Apocynaceae family and is found in many countries such as Africa and Western and South Asia, as well as
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