Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidative Potentials of “Beach Morning Glory” Ipomoea pes- caprae (Linn.) Roth Leaves Extract

Abstract

Ipomoea pes-caprae (Linn.) Roth, or beach morning glory, is a mangrove associate medicinal plant species of Convolvulaceae family that favorably grows in tropical and subtropical countries. Previous phytochemical screening revealed the presence of pharmacologically active components which could differ according to environmental conditions. In the Philippines, evidences on extensive investigation of the plant are not yet available. This study aimed to conduct phytochemical screening, and antioxidative potential determination of the dried leaves aqueous ethanol extract of I. pes-caprae (Linn.) Roth. Exhaustive serial extraction apportioned the crude ethanol extract (CEE) into hexane extract (HE); ethyl acetate extract (EAE); methanol extract (ME) and aqueous extract (AE). Ferric thiocyanate (FTC) assay determined the antioxidative potentials of CEE and the four serial extracts. The positive controls used in FTC assay were Vitamin E and butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). Phytochemical screening of CEE showed the presence of alkaloids; flavonoids; steroids and triterpenes; and tannins and phenolic compounds. FTC assay on CEE showed antioxidative activity but of lower extent than vitamin E and BHT. For serial extracts, FTC assay revealed that ME and AE possessed antioxidative activity comparable to vitamin E and BHT. These results showed that the wildly grown I. pescaprae is a potential source of pharmacologically active phytochemicals specifically the antioxidants. Keywords : Convolvulaceae, ferric thiocynate assay, mangrove, pharmacologically active, serial extraction.