Bioprospecting medicinal plants for antioxidant components

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Oxidative stress is implicated in aging and various diseases.
• Medicinal plants are a rich source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties.
• Identifying potent antioxidant compounds from plants is crucial for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the antioxidant potential of seven medicinal plant species and their fractions.
• To identify specific phenolic compounds responsible for antioxidant activity.

Main Methods:

• Plant extracts were prepared using aqueous-acetone and fractionated via column chromatography.
• Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays.
• Phenolic compounds were identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC).

Main Results:

• Feretia apodanthera and Ozoroa insignis extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, comparable to quercetin.
• Three highly active fractions were isolated from these species.
• Key phenolic compounds identified include quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, rutin, and isoquercetin.

Conclusions:

• Feretia apodanthera and Ozoroa insignis possess potent antioxidant properties attributed to their rich polyphenol content.
• These findings suggest potential applications in managing radical-related diseases and aging.
• Further research into these plant species could lead to novel therapeutic agents.