Evaluation of Solvent Extraction Process for Asparagus racemosus Root Extract through the Determination of its Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity Assay

This study is aimed to evaluate extraction capacity of different solvents through determining total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total saponin content, and an antioxidant assay of different solvent extracts (toluene, dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, water, 60% aqueous methanol, 60% aqueous ethanol and 60% aqueous acetone) of Asparagus racemosus (A. racemosus) root. The 60% aqueous methanol shows the highest extracting yield, in contrast, toluene shows the lowest yield. Highest total phenolic content (220.8±0.74mg GAE/g), total flavonoid content (219.3±0.64mg QCE/g), total tannin content (108.4±0.88mg GAE/g) were found from acetone extract. The methanol extract showed the highest saponin content (579.4±2.85mg ESE/g). Antioxidant potential determines by using various in vitro methodologies such as DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assay. The lowest IC50 value was found in acetone extract and thus it exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. The highest correlation was found between phenolic content and the antioxidant assay. It seems that phenolic contents are responsible for free radicle scavenging activity. From the observation, it concluded that acetone extract rich with polyphenolic content and methanol extract shows the highest amount of saponin content.