Antioxidant Activity of Crude and Flavonoid Extracts of Ocimum gratissimum and Hyptis suaveolens Leaf

Abstract

Antioxidants are natural substances that can inhibit oxidation or delay cell damage. In this study the antioxidant activity of crude and flavonoid extracts of Ocimum gratissimum and Hyptis suaveolens leaves were evaluated. The crude leaf extract of ocimum gratissimum and Hyptis suaveolens leaf were obtained by cold maceration, and the flavonoid content extracted from the crude extracts. The antioxidant activity for the crude and flavonoid extracts were investigated using 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The result obtained in the study indicated higher flavonoid content in Ocimum gratissimum 568.92 mg/100 g than Hyptis suaveolens leaf extract 454.86 mg/100 g. The crude extract of Hyptis suaveolens leaves exhibited a stronger radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 109.12 µg/mL than the flavonoid extract of Hyptis suaveolens leaf, the crude extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaf and flavonoid extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaf with IC50 values of 189.24, 138.72 and 182.84 µg/mL respectively. The result suggest that the flavonoid from the two plants used in this study can scavenge for free radicals and may aid in enhancement of health against reactive oxygen species.