In vitro assessment of relief to oxidative stress by different fractions of Boerhavia procumbens

Methanolic extract of Boerhavia procumbens Bank ex Roxb. was partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol sequentially after dissolving in distilled water. Phytochemical screening showed presence of phenolics, flavonoides and cardiac glycosides in large amount in chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol soluble fraction. The antioxidant activity of all these fractions and the remaining aqueous fraction was evaluated by four methods such as: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] assay, total antioxidant activity and ferric thiocyanate assay. Total phenolics were also determined. Some fractions showed noteworthy antioxidant activity. The results of the antioxidant activity revealed that the ethyl acetate soluble fraction showed the highest value of percent inhibition of DPPH [82.54 +/- 0.62] at the concentration of 125 micro g/ml. The IC[50] of this fraction was 37.11 +/- 0.23 micro g/ml, compared with butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT], which have IC[50] of 12.1 +/- 0.92 micro g/mL. It also showed the highest FRAP value [251.08 +/- 1.46 micro g of trolox equivalents] as well as the highest value of lipid peroxidation inhibition [57.21 +/- 52%], the highest total antioxidant activity [0.549 +/- 0.08] and also the highest total phenolic contents [77.1 +/- 0.6] as compared to the studied fractions. Phytochemical screening showed high percentage of phenolics, flavonoides and cardiac glycosides in this fraction

Cotinus coggyria: a rich source of antioxidants

Methanolic extract of Cotinus coggyria Scop. was mixed in distilled water and partitioned first with the n-hexane, then with chloroform, then ethyl acetate and at the end with n-butanol. The phytochemical screening of plant showed presence of the phenolics, cardiac glycosides and flavonoides in large amount in the chloroform, n-butanol and ethyl acetate soluble fraction. Antioxidant activity of these four fractions and the left behind aqueous fraction was measured by four methods such as: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radical scavenging activity, ferric thiocyanate assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] assay and total antioxidant activity. Total phenolics were also measured. Noteworthy antioxidant potential was shown by the chloroform, n-butanol and ethyl acetate soluble fraction showed. Ethyl acetate fraction showed highest% inhibition of the DPPH radical when compared with the other studied fractions i.e. 81.64 +/- 1.29% inhibition of the DPPH radical at the concentration of 30 microg/ml. Its IC[50] value was found to be 15.58 +/- 0.09 microg/ml, comparative to the butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT], which has IC[50] value 12.6 +/- 0.85microg/mL. This fraction also showed the highest lipid peroxidation inhibition [61.41 +/- 1.16%], as well as highest values of FRAP [697.76 +/- 1.98 microg of trolox equivalents] total antioxidant activity [1.02 +/- 0.09] and total phenolic contents [229.34 +/- 0.57] comparative to the other studied fractions. The chloroform and n-butanol soluble fraction also showed good results for all the studied antioxidant assays