Comparative evaluation of antioxidant and hemolytic potential of ornamental plants Ficus benjamina, Antigonon leptopus, and Amaranthus tricolor

Abstract

Aim: Ficus benjamina, Amaranthus tricolor, and Antigonon leptopus are belonging to the families Moraceae, Amaranthaceae, and Polygonaceae, respectively. Materials and Methods: The dried powder of these leaves was extracted with methanol, chloroform, petroleum ether, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. These extracts were tested to antioxidant free radical scavenging assay and hemolytic activity. Evaluation of antioxidant activity of these extracts was performed using two assays such as 2,2,-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical scavenging assay using quercetin as standard. Results: In DPPH radical scavenging assay, methanol, chloroform, petroleum ether, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate showed remarkable antioxidant activity having respective IC50 values such as 31.44, 38.21, 42.2, 26.02, and 17.40 μg/ml, respectively. In ABTS radical scavenging assay, petroleum ether, diethyl ether, methanol, and ethyl acetate showed remarkable antioxidant activity having respective IC50 values such as 13.7, 77.67, 13.90, and 18.33 μg/ml, respectively. Hemolytic activity showed positive results for all the plant extracts tested for their hemolysis abilities. Conclusion: The study concludes that, among the tested plant extracts, ethyl acetate extract of A. leptopus showed highest antioxidant potential. This study gives a summary of the antioxidant and antihaemolytic potential of different extracts of F. benjamina, A. leptopus and A. tricolor.