TLC analysis and antioxidant activity of garden egg leaves

Abstract

The Solanum melongena is used traditionally to treat different diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, and inflammation. This study is aimed at investigating the thin-layer chromatography analysis and antioxidant activity of n-hexane, acetone and methanol leaves extract of Solanum melongena. Sequential extraction with solvents of increasing polarity was carried out using the n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The thin-layer chromatography of the extracts carried out with different solvent system. Antioxidant activity was evaluated quantitatively using DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) for its free radical scavenging ability. The results of thin-layer chromatography revealed some spots with R_f values in the respective extracts, n-hexane (0.31, 0.42, 0.59, 0.65, 0.72, 0.85, 0.92), acetone (0.97, 0.92, 0.88 and 0.59) and methanol (0.72, 0.83, 0.86, 0.94 and 0.96). The extracts exhibit strong antioxidant activities as radical scavengers, indicating that they have strong proton donating abilities. The results from this research show credence to the traditional application of the plant. Further research is recommended on the isolation and characterization of the antioxidant compounds from the plant.

Key words: DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), Thin layer chromatography, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)