Antioxidant activity of acetone and ethanolic leaves extracts of Hippobromus pauciflorus (L.f.) Radlk.

Abstract

This study focused on determining the antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of 70% acetone and ethanolic leave extracts of Hippobromus pauciflorus (L.f.) Radlk. The measured antioxidant properties included free radical scavenging activities against 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothizoline 6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing power activities, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide scavenging properties and lipid peroxidation. The results show that the two extracts had good antioxidant potential. 70% acetone extract had higher ABTS, reducing power ability, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation scavenging ability, but lower DPPH activities when compared with the ethanolic extract. The antioxidant capacity of the two extracts as determined by ABTS, DPPH, reducing power, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide scavenging ability were lower when compared with tannic acid and BHT standard. Phytochemical analyses revealed that the level of total flavonoid, flavonol, proanthocyanidin and tannins were relatively similar. On the other hand, 70% acetone extract had higher level of total phenolics than ethanol extract. The present results indicate that the extracts of H. pauciflorus possesses antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavengers, acting possibly as primary antioxidants and could be used in the treatment and management of free radical-mediated diseases.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity, free radicals, Hippobromus pauciflorus, polyphenolic compounds.