Evaluation of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of different solvent extracts of leaf material of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. and investigation of their proliferation inhibition potential against EAC cell line.

In the present study, antioxidant and anticancer activities of different solvent extracts of an Indian medicinal plant, Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (leaf) were investigated. Among the different extracts studied, 70% ethanolic extract of S. campanulata leaf registered high antioxidant activity in terms of phosphomolybdate reducing power (955 FAEA), radical scavenging activity against DPPH (84.67%), superoxide (72.69%), hydrogen peroxide (83.20%) and hydroxyl radicals (70%), when compared to ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts. Further, the ethanolic extract illustrated remarkable anticancer activity against EAC cell line (85%) when compared to ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts. Ethanol extract showed higher level of total phenolic concentration (9.21 mg FAE/L), which is correlated with the maximum antioxidant activity exhibited by this extract. Due to remarkable antioxidant and anticancer properties, the ethanolic extract of S. campanulata leaf could be considered as a natural source of plant based drug to prevent / treat oxidative stress induced diseases such as cancer.