Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of In-VitroAntioxidantActivity of Bark Extractsfrom Madhuca longifolia (Madhu) and Ficus racemosa (Attikka) Grown in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Madhuca longifolia (Maddhu) and Ficus racemosa (Attikka) are well known medicinal plants which have been valued for decades in Sri Lankan Ayurvedic medicine. This research was aimed to study the phytochemical analysis and evaluate in vitro antioxidant activity of two solvent extracts (70% aqueous acetone and 80% aqueous methanol) obtained from each bark of selected plants. The crude extracts were prepared by steeping the dried powder in each solvent overnight in the dark conditions. Phytochemical screening of crude extracts was performed. In-vitro radical scavenging activity and antioxidant activity were evaluated by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The results of phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, carbohydrates, proteins and saponins in both extracts obtained from M. longifolia while revealing the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins in both bark extracts obtained from F. racemosa. Radical scavenging activity of 80% aq. methanol and 70% aq. acetone extracts obtained from bark of M. longifolia were determined as 25.4±0.1 and 23.1±0.4 mmol Trolox equivalents/100 mg dry weight of bark of M. longifolia (DW) and antioxidant capacity of 80% aq. methanol and 70% aq. acetone extracts were 42.6 ± 0.7 and 38.0 ± 1.1 mmol Fe (ll) equivalents/100 mg DW of the bark. Radical scavenging activity for two different extracts obtained from bark of F.racemosa were as 18.6 ± 0.3 (80% aqueous methanol) 20.2 ± 0.7 (70% aq. acetone) mmol Trolox equivalents/100 g DW of bark. Antioxidant capacity by FRAP assay for the two different extracts of F. racemosa were 28.5 ± 0.4 (80% aq. methanol) and 32.8 ± 1.6 (70% aq. acetone) mmol Fe (II) equivalents/100 g DW of the bark. It was concluded that the presence of remarkable in-vitro antioxidant activity of two different plant extracts were observed while significant antioxidant activity was showed by 80% aq. methanol extract of M. longifolia.