Assessing the effect of solvent extraction on the antioxidant activity of Polystichum acrostichoides and Adiantum lunulatum aerial parts: A comparative study

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Free radicals have been established detrimental effects on human health, mostly because of oxidative stress. Antioxidants are essential in reducing these effects and protecting cells from oxidative damage. As a result, there is rising interest in finding natural antioxidants. In this work, Polystichum acrostichoides and Adiantum lunulatum aerial parts, both widely utilized in medical systems for their therapeutic effects and as sources of free radicals, were examined to see how solvent extraction affected their antioxidant activity.
 
 Materials and Methods: In both plants' methanolic and hexane extracts, the amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds were measured. Utilizing the ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging tests, the antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated.
 
 Results: In both plant species, the methanolic extracts had higher phenolic and flavonoid contents than the hexane extracts. Notably, the ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays revealed that the methanol extract had the best antioxidant potency. On the other hand, there was no apparent antioxidant action in the hexane extracts.
 
 Conclusion: The results suggest that the aerial parts of Polystichum acrostichoides and Adiantum lunulatum could be effective sources of antioxidants. In the ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging experiments, the methanolic extracts had reduced IC50 values, which indicated that they had considerable antioxidant activity. These results demonstrate the potential of these ferns in the creation of innovative treatments for a range of oxidative stress-related diseases.