Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF BRILLANTAISIA PATULA

Aluko Bukola Tola*; Alli Smith Yemisi Rufina and Omoyeni Olubunmi Adenike

Abstract

The present study investigated the phytochemical and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of Brillantaisia patula leaves in vitro to provide scientific basis for the folkloric usage of this plant. The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by determining its ability to scavenge 2,2 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals. The reducing power of the extract was also determined using spectrophotometric methods. The activity of the extract against the radicals was concentration dependent. The phytochemical analysis of the leaves revealed the presence of phenolics (0.50 ± 0.12 μg/ml GAE), flavonoids (0.13 ± 0.09 μg/ml QE), tannins (0.08 ± 0.02 μg/ml TAE) and saponins (8.18 ± 0.80 %). The antioxidant activity exhibited by this plant correlated with its phytoconstituents. Our findings provide evidence that the ethanolic extract of B. patula is a potential source of natural antioxidants that could be used to combat stress related conditions

Keywords: Brillantaisia patula, phytochemicals, antioxidant activity, radicals