Phytochemical screening and antioxidant potential of Lepidagathis spinosa Wight ex nees., whole plant - In vitro method

To assess the phytoconstituents, total flavonoid, phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity of Lepidagathis spinosa wight ex Nees. (L.spinosa).

To assess the phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of L. spinosa with different solvents like petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and hydro alcohol extracts. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were assessed using spectrophotometric method. The total antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activities of various extracts were estimated against DPPH, Hydroxy radical and Nitric oxide radical scavenging assays.

The hydro alcohol extract of the whole shrub revealed the maximal polyphenol content when correlated with the other solvent extracts. Total phenolic content of the hydro alcohol extract was found to be 33.53 of GAE/g dry weight of samples. Flavonoid content was found to be 19.63333 mg of quercetin equivalents/g dry weight of the extract. All the extracts were exposed significant antioxidant activity and hydro alcohol extract showing highest antioxidant ability in association with the polyphenol contents. Based on the IC₅₀ values, hydro alcohol extract of the plant revealed the potent DPPH, Hydroxy radical, Nitric oxide radical scavenging ability.

This study suggests that hydro alcohol extract of L. spinosa could be a potential source of natural antioxidant and justifies its traditional use in ethnomedicine.