Evaluation of phytochemical and antioxidant activities of the different fractions of Hybanthus enneaspermus (Linn.) F. Muell. (Violaceae)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the naturally occurring antioxidant for the first time from the different solvent fractions of Hybanthus enneaspermus (H. enneaspermus) Linn F. Muell. family (Violaceae).@*METHODS@#Different fractions of H. enneaspermus were tested for total phenolic content, and in vitro antioxidant activity was measured by total antioxidant assay, DPPH assay, reducing power, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) scavenging assays.@*RESULTS@#The ethyl acetate (EA) fraction was found to have high levels of phenolic content [(212.15±0.79) mg GAE/g]. The EA fraction exhibited higher total antioxidant capacity, higher percentage of DPPH radical scavenging activity [(127.07±2.29) μg/mL], nitric oxide [(245.16±1.44) μg/mL], hydrogen peroxide [(227.38±7.18) μg/mL], deoxyribose [(270.61±8.72) μg/mL] and higher reducing power. There was a significant correlation between total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity (r(2)=0.972).@*CONCLUSIONS@#These results reveal that EA fraction of H. enneaspermus has strong antioxidant potential compared with other fractions. Our further study has been extended to the isolation of the possible compound that is responsible for having antioxidant property.