Evaluation of antioxidant and phytochemical activity in solvent extracts from Delonix regia flowers

Abstract

Background: Antioxidants are biological molecules that prevent oxidation, and with their enormous potency, they are broadly used in food and pharmaceutical industry. Free radicals possess an odd number of electrons that is in turn the primary cause for a variety of human disorders and diseases. Antioxidants react to the oxygen molecules, thereby preventing oxidative damages to the cell and its environment. Many plants and plant parts act as a good source of antioxidants. Materials and Methods: The present study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and phytochemical potential of flowers of Delonix regia. The dried flower was subjected to solvent extraction with methanol, ethyl acetate, acetone, and chloroform. A broad range of in vitro free radical scavenging and phytochemical assays was performed with the obtained extract. The structural features of the compounds in the flowers were studied through high-performance pre-parative thin-layer chromatography (TLC), TLC, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Results and Discussion: The in vitro free radical scavenging assays shows that the ethyl acetate hot extract of D. regia flowers is very potential even at low concentrations. As a result of phytochemical estimation, it is evident that the extract contains anthocyanin in higher quantity than tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and total phenols. Through FTIR analysis, the presence of conjugated ketone, amide, and phenolic C-O stretch is confirmed. Conclusion: The results suggest that the ethyl acetate extract possesses a significant antioxidant activity and the compounds from D. regia are found to be ideal candidates for antioxidant therapy.