ISSN: 2577-4328
Authors: Iserhienrhien LO* and Enoyoze GE
Background: Oxidative stress, a condition characterized by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defences, is increasingly implicated in various human diseases. Medicinal plants with potent antioxidant properties hold promise for therapeutic interventions against oxidative stress-related pathologies. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant potential of leaf and stem extracts and fractions derived from Geophila obvallata. Methods: Methanolic extracts of G. obvallata leaves and stems were subjected to solvent partitioning to obtain fractions based on polarity. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined. The antioxidant capacities of the extracts and fractions were assessed using established assays, including hydroxyl radical scavenging (HRSA) and ABTS+ cation radical scavenging. Results: The highest concentrations of phenolics (86.35 and 79.72 mg/g tissue gallic acid equivalents – GAE) and flavonoids (67.56 and 64.92 mg/g tissue quercetin equivalents – QE) were observed in the leaf and stem methanol extracts, respectively. Remarkably, the antioxidant activity of both leaf and stem methanol fractions surpassed that of the standard controls (ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and trolox). The antioxidant capacity exhibited a decreasing trend across the various extracts and fractions, following the order: methanol > 1-butanol > chloroform > benzene > ethyl acetate > n-hexane > aqueous. These findings suggest superior free radical scavenging abilities in the leaf extracts and fractions compared to the controls.Conclusion: This investigation unveils the significant antioxidant potential of G. obvallata leaf extracts, highlighting their potential efficacy in combating diseases associated with oxidative stress. These findings warrant further exploration to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and validate their therapeutic potential in vivo models.
Keywords: Antioxidants; HRSA; ABTS; Terminal Diseases; Oxidative Stress
