Isolation and identification of Anti-Oxidant Fraction from Active Extract of Rhizophora mucronata Poir. Leaves

Abstract

Rhizophora mucronata Poir is widely used in traditional medicine for treatment of various diseases including cancer. Different solvent extracts (e.g., methanol, ethanol, chloroform) of R. mucronata leaves showed the presence of some bioactive components, which have been linked to antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. This study was aimed to assess the phytochemical antioxidant active compound extracted from R. mucronata leaves and identified thought chromatographs methods. Experiments were performed with three solvent extract including methanol, chloroform and ethanol. Using qualitative and quantitative analysis of R. mucronata leave extracts and identified total phenolics, flavonoids and terpenoids, final antioxidant assay was done. Among the extracts tested, methanol extract showed very promising results in various qualitative and quantitative studies (phytochemical tests, total phenolic, total flavonoid and total terpenoid content). In addition, methanol extract exhibited high free radical scavenging activity. Hence, further studies were made for the identification of anti-oxidant active fraction from methanol extract of R. mucronata by column chromatography. Data confirmed the presence of two bands in the fraction by thin layer chromatography. The product chromatography fractions were repeatedly verified for antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Fraction 4 eluted with ethyl acetate and n-hexane combination exhibited a higher antioxidant activity in DPPH assay. From these findings, it was concluded that the methanol extract of R. mucronata leaves had maximum total phenolic, total flavonoid, total terpenoid content and maximum antioxidant activity, while its subfraction EH4 of ethyl acetate and n-hexane solvent system exhibited the highest antioxidant activity