Phytochemical Components and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Leaves Extract of Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (Chanca piedra)

Abstract

Oxidative stress has been recognized as a co-occurring pathogenic process that initiates and advances liver injury. Various risk factors, such as alcohol, drugs, environmental toxins, and irradiation, can cause the liver to experience oxidative stress, which in turn can lead to serious liver conditions such as alcoholic liver disease. This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potentials of methanol leaf extract of Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (Chanca piedra). The sample was obtained from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The methanol leaves extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical analysis and in vitro radical scavenging activity, using standard laboratory procedures. The methanol leaves extract of Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (Chanca piedra) exhibited a significant antioxidant activity on both hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and di-phenyl-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay with IC50 values of 3.70±0.06 and 6.78±0.01 μg/ml respectively, as compared to the standard (Ascorbic acid) with IC50 values of 2.39±0.01 and 1.25±0.01 μg/ml, respectively. This study therefore suggests that the methanol leaves extract of Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (Chanca piedra) possessed antioxidant activity.