Comparative investigation of free radical scavenging and cyclic voltammetric analyses to evaluate the antioxidant potential of selective green vegetables extracts

Abstract

The antioxidant properties of medicinal plants are often assessed using chemical assays; however, electrochemical techniques like cyclic voltammetry offer complementary insights. This study explores the antioxidant potential of crude ethanol extracts and solvent fractions from Ipomoea aquatica and Colocasia esculenta using both DPPH radical scavenging assay and electrochemical cyclic voltammetry. Phytochemical screening identified key secondary metabolites in both plants. Antioxidant activity was quantified using the DPPH assay, and electrochemical behavior was assessed by cyclic voltammetry to detect redox-active compounds. Phytochemical analysis revealed flavonoids, phenols, tannins, reducing sugars, and glycosides in both plants, while C. esculenta also contained terpenoids, alkaloids, and xanthoprotein. The DPPH assay showed IC50 values ranging from 41.80 to 188.15 µg/mL for I. aquatica and 35.55–170.84 µg/mL for C. esculenta. Cyclic voltammetry revealed characteristic electron transfer peaks, especially in Fraction 2 of I. aquatica and Fraction 3 of C. esculenta, indicating the presence of effective electron-donating antioxidants. Cyclic voltammetry successfully complemented traditional DPPH assays, offering a more nuanced understanding of antioxidant profiles. The combined approach highlights the potential application of these plants in food and pharmaceutical formulations.