Evaluation of the antioxidant activity in hydroalcoholic extracts of Portulaca oleracea L.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity in hydroalcoholic extracts of the aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea L. Extracts were obtained using methanol and ethanol as solvents. Total phenols and flavonoids were quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and the aluminum complexation reaction. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was screened using the DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydracil) radical scavenging method and the ABTS•+ (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazolin)- 6-sulfonic acid) assay. The methanolic extract showed a greater antioxidant capacity against DPPH• and ABTS•+, as well as a higher content of total phenols and flavonoid, in comparison to the ethanolic extract. These results suggest that the aerial parts of P. oleracea exhibit antioxidant activity.