Antioxidant Principles in Peltophorum Ferrugineum Flower Extracts

Abstract

In this study, the ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol extracts from the petals of the flowers of Peltophorum ferrugineum were evaluated for their phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and HPLC profile. The total phenolic contents of the ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol extracts, as determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, were found to be 17.0 ± 0.8, 29.3 ± 0.4, and 18.6 ± 0.9%, respectively, as gallic acid equivalent. The antioxidant potentials of the extracts were found to be in the order of acetone > methanol > ethyl acetate as assayed through three different in vitro assay methods, such as phosphomolybdenum method, α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl method, and ferricyanide reduction method. HPLC analyses of the extracts showed the presence of gallic acid and catechin in ethyl acetate extract, ferulic acid, and catechin in methanol extract. In the present study, the flower of P. ferrigineum possessed a substantial amount of phenolics with marked antioxidant activity. Phenolics, such as gallic acid, catechin, and ferulic acid, were the antioxidant principles in the flowers.