Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Ethanol Extract of Leilem (Clerodendrum minahassae Teijsm. & Binn) as an Antihyperlipidemic and Antiatherosclerotic Agent

Abstract

Leilem, which is known with the botanical name Clerodendrum minahassae, is a plant species commonly used as a component of almost all meat- and fish-based cuisine. In addition to enhancing the flavor and taste suited to the local people, leaves of leilem is also believed to possess high level of natural antioxidant. The leaves of this plant has also been used as traditional medicine to treat stomachache and lung diseases. Our previous study revealed that ethanol extract of leilem has beneficial antihyperlipidemic and antiatherosclerotic effects on the aorta of Wistar rats fed with high lipid and cholesterol levels. The present study was aimed at investigating the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of leilem leaves. Phytochemical screening was carried out using standard methods of precipitation and coloration reactions. In addition, the total phenolics and flavonoids were determined by using spectrophotometric methods. Finally, the leaf extract of leilem was assayed to evaluate its in vitro antioxidant properties using 1,1-Diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay. The phytochemical screening of leilem leaves revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, and phenols, while terpenes and tannins were not detected. The extract of leilem leaves showed estimated phenolics and flavonoid content of 139.88 mg/g and 34.46 mg/g respectively. Concentration of leilem leave extract required for 50% inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging effect (IC50) was recorded as 565.45 μg/mL. At 1 mg/mL concentration, the aqueous extract of leilem leaves showed ferric reducing power of 123.62 μmoles/mg in FRAP assay. These findings suggest that the ethanol extract of leilem has potential in vitro antioxidant activities. Overall, results obtained from this study support our previous finding that the extract of leilem leaves has beneficial antihyperlipidemic and antiatherosclerotic effects and can be used as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants.