Evaluation of antioxidant activity of extracts from Leucosidea sericea

Abstract

Summary Introduction: Leucosidea sericea finds applications in the treatment of herpes and HIV. Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and determine the total flavonoid contents (TFCs) and total phenolic contents (TPCs) of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol crude extracts obtained from leaves and stem-bark of L. sericea. Methods: Maceration and hot solvent extraction methods were used to obtain various crude extracts. DPPH and ferric reducing power assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Colorimetric aluminium chloride and Folin-Ciocalteu methods were used to determine the TFCs and TPCs, respectively. Results: The methanol leaf extract showed highest radical scavenging activity of 82.00±0.93% at a concentration of 3000 µg/ml followed by ethyl acetate leaf extract and methanol stem-bark extract with 79.40±5.21 and 75.16±1.15%, respectively. Acetone stem-bark extract showed highest ferric reducing power of 0.539±0.004 at 700 nm at a concentration of 100 µg/ml followed by hexane leaf extract and hexane stem-bark extract with 0.474±0.014 and 0.437±0.013 at 700 nm, respectively. Ethyl acetate stem-bark extract showed highest TFCs of 655.6±0.1111 mg QE/g of DW of the extract followed by acetone stem-bark extract with 450.0±0.00711 mg QE/g of DW of the extract. Acetone stem-bark extract showed highest TPCs of 891.9±0.657 mg TAE/g of the DW of extract followed by methanol stem-bark extract with 878.3±0.029 mg TAE/g of DW of the extract. Conclusion: The antioxidant activity of various solvent extracts from leaves and stem-bark of L. sericea was evaluated. L. sericea could be a source of potent antioxidants.