Isolation, Identification and Free Radical Scavenging Potential of Acetogenin Rich Fractions from <i>Annona muricata</i> Leaves

Abstract

Herbal extracts are indicative of the most important areas of traditional medicine in the world. In order to establish their potential as a source of phytomedicine, the study of medicinal plants is important to facilitate the proper use of herbal medicine. Annona muricata L. commonly known as Soursop belongs to the family Annonaceae. The active constituents present in the plant have preventive effects for various diseases. "Acetogenins” are powerful phytochemicals present in the Annona muricata. These compounds collectively have shown antitumor, parasiticidal, pesticidal and antimicrobial activities. The objective of the present study is to isolate, identify acetogenin rich fraction from Annona muricata leaves and to evaluate the capacity of free radical scavenging. This evidence stated that acetogenin rich fraction could be isolated from Annona muricata leaves and this important phytochemical compound was easily identified by using kedde's reagent. All the four fractions (F1C, F2C, F3C and F4C) tested for radical scavenging activity possess considerable scavenging activity, among the extracts tested F4C fraction exhibited highest scavenging activity.