Rhamnus triquetra: A valuable source of natural antioxidants to shield from oxidative stress

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the in vitro antioxidant potential of different fractions of Rhamnus triquetra. The methanolic extract of this plant was dissolved in distilled water and successively partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, phenolics, sugars, saponins and flavonoids. The antioxidant potential of crude methanolic extract, all these fractions and remaining aqueous fraction was evaluated by different methods i.e., DPPH free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, ferric thiocyanate assay and total phenolic content assay. All the fractions exhibited significant antioxidant potential. The results revealed that ethyl acetate soluble fraction showed the highest % inhibition of DPPH radical (92.01 ± 0.21) having an IC50 value of 7.59 ± 0.65 μg/mL, total antioxidant activity value (1.840 ± 0.08), highest ferric reducing antioxidant power value of (2137.7 ± 0.58 μg/mL) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (61.94 ± 1.17 %). The chloroform fraction showed the highest total phenolic content value (121.5 ± 1.10 μg/g) as compared to other fractions.