Assessment of antioxidant potential and phytochemical analysis of Pituranthos scoparius crude extract and its fractions

Abstract

The antioxidant activity of the crude hydroalcoholic extract (PSMW) and its derived fractions n-hexane (PSH), diethylic ether (PSDE), chloroforme (PSC), ethyl acetate (PSEA), n-butanol (PSB) and residual aqueous fraction (PSA) of aerial part of endemic plant Pituranthos scoparius was performed using three in vitro tests : phosphomolybdate assay, reducing power and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity. The total yield, total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), flavonol (TF) and condensed tannin contents (TCT) of all the fractions were also determined. This plant was also subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening test for various constituents. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, saponins and steroids in the extracts. Amongst the extracts, PCMW showed the highest TPC (8.40 ± 0.01 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of dry matter), TFC (2.25 ± 0.01 mg catechin equivalent/g), TF (1.19 ± 0.04 mg quercetin equivalent/g) and TCT (1.07 ± 0.16 mg catechin equivalent/g). The Total Antioxidant Capacity (CAT) was found to be varied in different fractions from 0.11 ± 0.00 to 10.02 ± 0.02 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g). Therefore, PSEA showed the highest antioxidant activities to reduce iron (IC50 = 1.19 ± 0.00 mg/mL) and to scavenge DPPH (IC50 = 0.91 ± 0.02 mg/mL).