Abstract

In vitro antioxidative properties of methanol, chloroform and diethyl ether extracts of the leaves of Daphniphyllum chartaceum Rosenthal. were examined spectrophotometrically. In vitro antioxidant activity of all the extracts were determined by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay, reducing power assay, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging activity and total phenol content. Among all the three extracts, diethyl ether showed highest DPPH scavenging (32.78±0.11) at a concentration of 1000 µg/ml and reducing power activity (0.908±0.013). The methanolic extract exhibited higher phenolic content (0.19±0.013 mg/ml catechol equivalent) and as a result, there was an enhanced H₂O₂ scavenging activity (27.93±0.47), followed by the chloroform extract. The observations from this study suggest the potentiality of D. chartaceum, which could be commercially exploited by the pharmaceutical industry as a natural antioxidant.

Key words: In vitro antioxidative activity, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, reducing power assay, natural antioxidant.