Original Articles
Francisco Glaudson Granja Pare
Abstract
Phytochemical screening of the methanolic fraction from the leaves of Crescentia cujete was carried out.The total phenolic content of the fraction was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Total flavonoid content also was measured. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by using DPPH radical scavenging,β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching and compared with ascorbic acid, BHA and BHT, as well as by ABTS free radical decolorization and compared with Trolox®. The total phenolic content was of 50.47 ± 0.08 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g while the total flavonoid content was of 47.41 ± 0.01 mg of catechin equivalent/g.The antioxidant activity of methanolic fraction by DPPH radical scavenging (measured as IC50)was of 34.01 ± 4.97μg/ml, and by ABTS free radical decolorization (measured as IC50) was of 3.80 ± 0.20 μg/ml. The methanolic fraction exhibited good antioxidant potential by DPPH and ABTS methods while in the β-carotene method the activity was very low. The significant presence of flavonoids and tannins measured in phytochemical screening and the total phenolic and flavonoid contents can be the main source of antioxidant activity of the fraction. Further studies will be conducted to confirm the antioxidant activity of methanolic fraction through other assays.