Proximate analysis, phytochemical screening and total phenolic and flavonoid content of the ethanolic extract of molave Vitex parviflora Juss. Leaves

Arvin B. Panti, Remil M. Aguda

Abstract

Air-dried leaves of molave (Vitex parviflora Juss.) were subjected to proximate chemical analysis and the results were compared with literature values of its close relative, lagundi (Vitex negundo Linn.), a clinically-proven, commercial cough medicine in the Philippines. Following AOAC standard method of analysis, the air-dried molave leaves were shown to contain 16.95 ± 0.07 % moisture, 9.37 ± 0.09 % ash, 1.80 ± 0.14 % crude fat, 33.18 ± 0.49 % crude fiber, 16.94 ± 2.69 % crude protein and 21.76 ± 2.60 % total carbohydrates (by difference). Phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract of the molave leaves yielded secondary metabolites that include alkaloids, saponins, diterpenes, phenols, phytosterols and flavonoids. By Folin-Ciocalteu assay of the ethanolic extract, total phenolic content of 356 ± 19.4 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) per 100g air-dried sampleand total flavonoid content of 321.16 ± 16.71 mg quercetin equivalent (QE) per100g air-dried sample were obtained. The results suggest the high anti-oxidant potential of extractable components from the leaves of molave.