Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Activities, Total Phenolics and Flavonoids content of Leaves from Persicaria odorata Polygonaceae

Abstract

Persicaria odorata Polygonaceae is a widely used herb in Asia. It contains several interesting bioactive components, and possesses properties that promote health. This is an important medicinal plant used to treat inflammation and swelling, diarrhea and excessive bleeding, and so on. Base on phytochemical analysis, the Persicaria odorata leaves contained lots compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinone, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, saponins and reducing compounds. The presence of those phytochemicals in this herbs indicated its potential medicinal effects, along with various vital biological and physiological properties. The leaves were extracted using ethanol and water to produce the respective extracts. The total phenolic and flavonoids content of each extract were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and the aluminum chloride reagent, respectively. The ethanolic extract from leaves of Persicaria odorata showed higher total phenolic (58.56 ± 3.86 µgGAE/mg) and flavonoid contents (70.65 ± 4.14 µgQE/mg) than the aqueous extract. The percentage of radical scavenging activity was determined using radical scavenging assay with DPPH and ABTS. The ethanol extract of Persicaria odorata leaves had a high antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 311.26 ± 3.06 µg/mL DPPH and 167.66 ± 6.67 ABTS. The presence study showed that in ethanolic and aqueous extracts the medicinal potential of Persicaria odorata leaves and the positive relation between the total content of polyphenols and antioxidant activities.