Antiradical Activity, Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Content of Extracts from the Stem Bark of Pterocarpus erinaceus

Abstract: In this study, radical scavenging activity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of hexane, ethyl acetate, nbutanol and methanol extracts of the stem bark of Pterocarpus erinaceus were investigated. Antioxidant activity was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated with Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetric method respectively. Methanol extract showed the best antioxidant activity with the highest total flavonoid content (396.61±3.48 mgE Cat/1g DE) followed by n-butanol extract (263.63±5.44 mgECat/1g DE) and ethyl acetate extract (224.71±7.32 mgECat/1g DE). However, the n-butanol extract showed a highest phenolic content (490.03±4.02 mgEAA/1g DE) than the methanol extract (450.50±1.52 mgEAA/1g DE). These findings showed increase in antioxidant activity directly proportional to increase in extracting solvent's polarity and flavonoid content