Abstract

Oxidative stress has been linked to the pathogenicity of many diseases. This study investigated the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the methanolic extract and solvent fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous) of Desmodium ramosissimum using Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride assays, respectively. The extract and solvent fractions were further appraised for their in vitro antioxidant capacity using total antioxidant capacity (TAC), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods at varying concentrations of 25–300 µg/mL. Results revealed that ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions possessed elevated levels of TPC and TFC when compared to other solvent fractions and extracts in a concentration-dependent manner. The ethyl acetate fraction had the highest TPC (532.36 mg GAE/g), TFC (2843.33 mg QE/g), and ferric reducing potential (56.70 mg GAE/g) at 300 µg/mL. In addition, at 300 µg/mL, the TAC (77.33 mg AAE/g) of the n-butanol fraction and its DPPH radical scavenging ability (86.04%) were higher. As shown in this study, organic solvents with different chemical natures are capable of extracting chemical constituents with antioxidant components of different polarities, and D. ramosissimum may also be considered a rich source of natural antioxidants, justifying its pharmacological use in traditional medicine.

Highlights

  • Reactive species are mainly derivations of cellular aerobic metabolism and external factors such as radiation, pollution, exposure to certain drugs, heavy metals and toxic chemicals [1]

  • The use of natural antioxidants in combating oxidative stress has gained global popularity, as it counteracts the volatile, unstable and toxic nature of synthetic antioxidants [5]. Secondary plant metabolites such as phenolics and flavonoids have been identified as effective, free radical scavengers, chelators of trace metals, inhibitors of enzymes involved in free radical generation and up-regulators of the endogenous antioxidant protection [6]

  • The present research focused on evaluating the total phenolics, total flavonoids contents and in vitro antioxidant activity of D. ramosissimum methanol extract and its solvent fractions

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Summary

Introduction

Reactive species are mainly derivations of cellular aerobic metabolism and external factors such as radiation, pollution, exposure to certain drugs, heavy metals and toxic chemicals [1] They play crucial roles in signal transduction, transcription, regulation of cytokine, growth factor and hormone action, neuromodulation, immunological defense and a host of other physiological functions [2,3]. The use of natural antioxidants in combating oxidative stress has gained global popularity, as it counteracts the volatile, unstable and toxic nature of synthetic antioxidants [5] Secondary plant metabolites such as phenolics and flavonoids have been identified as effective, free radical scavengers, chelators of trace metals, inhibitors of enzymes involved in free radical generation and up-regulators of the endogenous antioxidant protection [6]. The present research focused on evaluating the total phenolics, total flavonoids contents and in vitro antioxidant activity of D. ramosissimum methanol extract and its solvent fractions

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