Assessment of Anti-oxidant Activity of Aerial Parts of Mangrove Plant, Derris trifoliata ( Leguminosae)

The current study was conducted to verify the traditional medicinal use and to carry out the in-vitro antioxidant activity of various solvent extracts of Derris trifoliata (aerial part). The percentage yield of ethanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts were found 2.5% w/w. Freshly prepared extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. All extracts revealed the presence of several important phytochemicals which might be responsible for its medicinal properties. In vitro Electron transfer (ET) reaction-based assays of ethanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts have been investigated using various model systems viz., DPPH, total phenolic, tannin and flavonoid content, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and reducing power assay. Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reaction-based assays have been conducted using Nitric Oxide (NO) scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity assay methods. Ethanol extract was found to possess highest DPPH (IC50=16.824 µg/ml), total phenolic content (44.51 GAE/g of dried plant extract), reducing power assay (0.387±0.0006), FRAF assay (IC50=133.51 µg/ml), hydrogen peroxide scavenging (IC50=144.888 µg/ml) and nitric oxide scavenging activities (IC50=152.655 µg/ml). Whereas ethyl acetate extract was found to possess the highest total tannin content (42.56 GAE/g of dried plant extract) and total flavonoid content (78.08 QE/g of dried plant extract). In vitro antioxidant study was also performed in terms of chelation power on ferrous ions. The highest chelation power was found for ethyl acetate extract (IC50=62.489 µg/ml). The above study suggests that Derris trifoliata may be a vital source of nutraceuticals.