Antioxidant and antiviral potency of Begonia medicinalis fractions

This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and antiviral potency of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and, water fractions of Begonia medicinalis Ardi & D.C.Thomas as well as to identify the chemical constituents.

Assays for antioxidant and antiviral activity (HIV-1) were carried out on MT-4 cells infected with HIV using the DPPH method and the determination of the cytopathic effect. Meanwhile, GC-MS was used to identify the chemical compounds.

The determination of antioxidants showed that all fractions possessed potent activity with the IC₅₀ ranging from 2.61 to 8.26 μg/mL. From the antiviral activity of MT-4 cells infected by HIV, the n-hexane fraction of B. medicinalis showed the most potency with the IC₅₀ of 0.04 ± 0.05 μg/mL. It has less cytotoxicity (11.08 ± 4.60 μg/mL) affording the high selectivity index of 238.80. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis of n-hexane fraction found the major compound of carboxylic acid derivate with the area percentage of 76.4% and the presence of phenolic compounds (8.38%). Meanwhile, in water fraction, terpenoids were found in a higher concentration (10.05%) than others.

Therefore, this study supports the application of B. medicinalis as a herbal medicine for antioxidant and antiviral.