Antioxidant potential of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius in relation to their phenolic content

The present study evaluates the antioxidative and radical scavenging potential of the tuber extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson, (Araceae). The ethanol extract of A. paeoniifolius (APE) was studied for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation estimated in terms of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the levels were reduced by 4.3% to 67.2% in a dose-dependent manner. Further, APE was analyzed for scavenging capacities based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-2-radical (DPPH) assay and percentage inhibition activity based on 2,2-azinobis-(-3-ethyl) benzo-thiozoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS+) and H2O2. The A. paeoniifolius extract showed a maximum of 68.6% of DPPH scavenging activity and the maximum inhibition of 74% and 67.2% in the case of ABTS and H2O2, respectively. The antioxidant efficiency and inhibition of oxidation of the extract was found to be dose-dependent at the tested concentrations of 1-50 microg/mL. High-performance thin layer liquid chromatography (HPTLC) profile of the extract suggests the presence of polyphenols such as gallic acid, resveratrol, quercetin and two unidentified compounds. The results suggest that the ethanol extract of A. paeoniifolius has a potent antioxidant activity in vitro and can be utilized as an effective and safe source of antioxidants.