Evaluation of the total phenolic, total flavonoid, and radical scavenging properties of the stem bark and leaves of Pterocarpus osun

Abstract

Introduction: Medicinal plants have the capacity to scavenge free radicals due to their potential to stabilize harmful molecules, which contributes to oxidative stress that results in non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes. Methodology: Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method and the aluminium chloride method respectively, were used to evaluate the total contents of phenolic and flavonoid of the Pterocarpus osun leaf and stem bark extracts.  Purpose of study: The goal of the current investigation was to evaluate the total content of flavonoid, and total content of phenol present in methanol extracts of the leaf and stem bark of P. osun. Using the DPPH assay to measure the extracts' capacity to scavenge free radicals, inhibition concentrations of 0.0625, 0.125, 0.250, 0.500, and 1.00 mg/mL were noted. Results: The IC50s for the stem bark and the leaf extracts are 3.44, and 48.14 mg/mL, respectively. The amount of flavonoid in the stem bark was 2.32, and 1.50 mg quercetin/g extract for the leaf. The total phenolic content was 8.61 and, 6.61 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract for the stem bark and for the leaf, respectively. Conclusion: The results show that there is a correlation between radical scavenging properties and poly phenolics.