DPPH radical scavenging activity of extracts from Rhamnus prinoides

Abstract

Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts from leaves and stem-bark of Rhamnus prinoides were evaluated for their antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging assay. The leaves extracts showed scavenging activity ranging from 03.33±0.89 to 55.03±3.40 µg mL-1 while the stem-bark extracts showed relatively strong scavenging activity ranging from 03.65±1.02 to 59.55±2.27 µg mL-1. The IC 50 values of R. prinoides hexane leaves extract (RPHELS), R. prinoides chloroform leaves extract (RPCHLS), R. prinoides ethyl acetate leaves extract (RPEALS), R. prinoides methanolic leaves extract (RPMELS), R. prinoides hexane stem-bark extract (RPHESB), R. prinoides chloroform stem-bark extract (RPCHSB), R. prinoides ethyl acetate stem-bark extract (RPEASB) and R. prinoides methanolic stem-bark extract (RPMESB) were found to be >3000, >3000, >3000, 950.42, ~1500, 710.50, ~1000 and 902.78 µg mL-1 , respectively. The positive control ascorbic acid showed an IC 50 value of <200 µg mL-1. From this study, we concluded that the extracts from R. prinoides showed promising antioxidant activity. R. prinoides finds therapeutic applications in the traditional medicine. Further research is required to commercialize products from this plant.