The phytochemical screening, antioxidant properties and toxicity study of Anacardium occidentale and Barringtonia racemosa leaves extracts

The buildup of free radicals is linked to oxidative stress-related disease such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The presence of natural antioxidants able to scavenge free radicals, thus, minimize their side effects. Anacardium occidentale and Barringtonia racemosa are medicinal plants that have been discovered to have many pharmacological benefits and have a potential as natural antioxidant agents. Thus, the purpose of this research was to identify the phytochemical components, antioxidant qualities, and toxicity effects of leaf extracts from A. occidentale and B. racemosa

The experimental research was performed by using total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) analysis, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and followed by in vitro toxicity effects by using brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA).

The findings showed the presence of several phytochemical constituents in both plant extracts. Meanwhile, the phytochemical quantification presented that the methanolic extracts of A. occidentale and B. racemosa contained high TPC and TFC values. Besides, the results of DPPH scavenging assay showed high antioxidant effects of both plants extracts. Lastly, both plant extracts showed low toxicity effects when compared to potassium dichromate, which is an oxidizing agent known for its toxic properties that served as positive control for BSLA.

The methanolic extracts of A. occidentale and B. racemosa are potential source of antioxidant which may be because the extracts contained flavonoid and phenolic compounds and suggested their potential as future antioxidant agents.