antioxidant activity, total flavonoid and total phenolic content of ethyl-acetate and n-butanol fractions of Detarium microcarpum stem bark

Abstract

Flavonoids and phenolic are natural antioxidants found in plants that could scavenge free radicals. The present study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity, total flavonoid and total phenolic content of ethyl-acetate and n-butanol fractions of Detarium microcarpum stem bark. Aqueous extraction was carried out on Detarium microcarpum stem bark and the crude extract was further fractionated sequentially using ethyl-acetate and n-butanol solvents. For ethyl-acetate and n-butanol fractions, the total flavonoid content were 45.76±2.59 and 234.42±0.71 mg/g quercetin equivalents while total phenol content were 11.54±0.20 and 2.97±0.31 mg/g Gallic acid equivalents respectively. Ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity with 65.31% inhibition while n-butanol showed the highest reducing power and H2O2 free radical scavenging activities with 65.31% and 52.55% inhibition at a higher concentration. This result suggests that an extract from this plant could be used as a natural antioxidant supplement.