Publication: ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS AND ORGANIC EXTRACTS FROM KENYAN RUELLIA PROSTRATA
Total Views 0
total viewsTotal Downloads 4
total downloadsDate
2017-03-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research
Cite this Item
Abstract
Ruellia species belong to Acanthaceae family, and are perennial
creepers with widespread medicinal uses including analgesic and anti-inflammatory
activity. The objective of this study was to determine the qualitative phytochemical
constituents and anti-oxidant activity of crude extracts from whole plant parts of
Kenyan Ruellia species viz. Ruellia prostrata. Whole parts of the plants were
collected, air-dried under shade and organic extraction was done by cold maceration
using ethyl acetate and methanol. Aqueous extraction was done by boiling. Anti-
oxidant activity was performed based on the ability of the aqueous, methanolic and
ethyl acetate extracts to scavenge free radicals produced by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-
picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Ascorbic acid was used as the standard. Anti-oxidant tests
were done at eight concentrations (3.9, 7.8, 15.6, 31.3, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500
μg/ml). The anti-oxidant activity of both plant extracts and ascorbic acid increased
with increase in concentration. Methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited a
higher anti-oxidant activity with IC50 values of 20.58 and 22.26 μg/ml respectively,
relative to aqueous extract (IC50 of 51.92μg/ml). Ascorbic acid standard exhibited
high anti-oxidant activity with IC50 value of 2.11μg/ml. The phytochemical
screening tests were based on visual observation of colour change and precipitate
formation. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of terpenoids, saponins,
flavonoids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. Flavonoids and tannins are a major group
of compounds that act as primary anti-oxidants. The presence of these compounds
could attribute to the potent anti-oxidant activity of R. prostrata extracts. From this
study, it was concluded that Ruellia prostrata could have anti-inflammatory activity.
Description
Keywords
Ruellia prostrata, Antioxidant, Phytochemicals, Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins