A Comparative Study of Phytochemical Screening and DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity of Ficus carica Linn. Leaves Extracts

Abstract

This study focused on two extraction solvents and the examination of antioxidant with the most reliable antioxidant activity test. Furthermore, this study aimed to compare the phytochemical components and antioxidant activity of two Ficus carica Linn. extracts using the local (Indonesian) Ficus carica Linn. plant as the sample. The extraction was conducted by maceration technique using two organic solvents, namely methanol, and ethanol. The phytochemical screening of these extracts was conducted on several metabolite classes, namely alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, glycosides, and saponins. In addition, the total phenolic and flavonoid compounds were determined with gallic acid and quercetin, respectively for standards. The antioxidant activity assay was performed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) method with ascorbic acid as the comparative standard. The phytochemical screening of the extracts showed positive results for all tested metabolite classes, however, the methanol extract showed a negative result to alkaloids compounds. The total phenolic and flavonoid compounds were 33.93 ± 0.31, 40.76 ± 0.23 mg GAE/g and 26.28 ± 0.20, 24.35 ± 0.31 mg QE/g for both ethanol and methanol extracts, respectively. Furthermore, the assay showed that both extracts had strong antioxidant activity, however, the methanol extract is slightly higher. The result also showed that methanol extract of F. carica Linn. leaves has fewer phytochemical compounds but demonstrates higher antioxidant activity compared to the ethanolic extract.