Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of Dillenia bracteata

Abstract

Introduction: Oxidative stress may lead to a number of diseases such as atherosclerosis, nephrotoxicity,
liver cirrhosis, cancers, diabetes, and Alzheimer disease. Medicinal plants are an important source of
antioxidants. Therefore, the antioxidant potential of Dillenia bracteata was evaluated in the present study.
Materials and Methods: The coarse powder of leaf of Dillenia bracteata (Dilleniaceae) was extracted in
Soxhlet apparatus, with ethanol (90%) and ethanolic extract of D. bracteata (EEDB) was further processed
for phytochemical screening, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, and various in vitro antioxidant
assays. Results and Discussion: The phytochemicals present in EEDB were glycosides, carbohydrates,
triterpenoids, proteins and amino acids, gums and mucilages, and flavonoids. The total phenolic and
flavonoid contents of EEDB were found to be 168.67 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry extract
and 61.67 mg quercetin equivalents per gram of dry extract, respectively. In 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH) radical scavenging activity, EEDB exerted an inhibition of 74% and ascorbic acid exerted 83% at
500 μg/ml. In the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, the absorbance of EEDB increased with increasing
concentration. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of EEDB was 67% and ascorbic acid reached 74% at
500 μg/ml. The superoxide radical scavenging activity of EEDB was 87%, and ascorbic acid reached 89%
at 1000 μg/ml. Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity of EEDB reached 69.21% and ascorbic acid reached
84.01% at 500 μg/ml. Conclusion: The antioxidant effect of D. bracteata leaf may be due to the phenolics
and flavonoids present in it. The present study suggests that this extract could be of great importance for the
treatment of free radical-related diseases.