From Weed to Medicinal Plant: Antioxidant Capacities and Phytochemicals of Various Extracts of Mikania micrantha

Abstract

Mikania micrantha is commonly consumed as traditional medicine in some countries, including Malaysia. Little is known about the antioxidant properties and phytochemicals of M. micrantha. This study was aimed to investigate the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant capacities of the leaves and stems of M. micrantha of hot water, cold water, 70% ethanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane extracts. Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetric assays were used to determine the TPC and TFC, respectively. The antioxidant capacities were determined using rapid, inexpensive and small-scale microplate of five different antioxidant assays. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to chemically profile and characterize the phytochemicals. In comparison with different solvents, the ethyl acetate stems (EAS) and leaves (EAL) extracts of M. micrantha had the significantly greatest TPC (141 ± 0.51 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) and TFC (70.1 ± 0.92 catechin equivalent/g), respectively. Moreover, EAS extract had the significantly greatest antioxidant capacities using DPPH (EC50 = 324 ± 61.4 μg/mL), ABTS (0.53 ± 0.01 mmol trolox equivalent/g), FRAP (1.28 ± 0.05 mmol Fe 2+ /g), phosphomolybdenum antioxidative power (219 ± 7.03 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g), and β-carotene bleaching (108 ± 2.23%) assays. GC-MS analysis of EAS showed the presence of sesquiterpenes (30.46%), phenol (16.38%), and alkane hydrocarbons (10.45%), which may contribute to its antioxidant capacities. These findings suggest the stems extract of M. micrantha using ethyl acetate as the potential source of natural antioxidant agents and its utilization to prevent oxidative damage-related diseases could be further explored.

Mikania micrantha Extract Inhibits HMG-CoA Reductase and ACAT2 and Ameliorates Hypercholesterolemia and Lipid Peroxidation in High Cholesterol-Fed Rats

“…This phenomenon was explained by Adaramoye et al [ 20 ] who reasoned that the decreased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides upon treatment are attributable to the lowering of the biosynthesis of hepatic triglycerides and the redeployment of cholesterol molecules between the molecules of lipoproteins. The effect of EAMMS extracts is also related to the abundance of chemical constituents’ presence in EAMMS extracts such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids and vitamins [ 5 , 6 , 11 ]. Terpenoids (particularly sesquiterpene lactones) are the major compounds found in the ethyl acetate extracts of the flowers, leaves and the whole part of M. micrantha [ 11 ].…”

“…In this present study, treatment with EAMMS extract was found to confer protection against lipid peroxidation in hypercholesterolemia-induced rats. EAMMS-treated rats were used to reduce MDA concentration nearly normal level compared to the rats with high cholesterol diet, therefore suggesting that EAMMS might possess an antioxidant activity owing to the presence of its phenol, alkane hydrocarbons, flavonoids and phytosterol [ 6 ], thus suggesting that EAMMS leads to beneficial response on oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic rats. Many previous studies have shown that plant polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins can effectively lower the level of TC, TG, LDL and MDA in hyper-cholesterolemic rodents [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

“…Fresh stems of M. micrantha was selected and washed and then dried at 35 °C for 72 h in a ventilated drying oven. M. micrantha powdered stems were then extracted using ethyl acetate and evaporated at 48 °C [ 6 ].…”

“…This perennial creeping vine is also consumed as a juice as an alternative medicine for the treatment of diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia [ 4 , 5 ]. M. micrantha were previously reported to possess many health benefits such as antioxidant [ 6 ], anti-diabetic [ 7 ], anti-cancer [ 8 , 9 ], antiproliferative [ 10 ], anti-dermatophytic [ 11 ], anti-inflammatory [ 12 ] and antibacterial [ 5 ] activities. These beneficial effects are related to the richness of chemical constituents such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids and vitamins [ 5 , 6 , 11 , 13 ].…”

Mikania micrantha mixed woven fabric for quick blood clotting and wound healing

“…2 Its' leaves are being used as a source of several medicines since ancient times. 3 M.micrantha contains lots of medicinal characteristics and potentials to obstruct and heal different diseases such as haemostatic, fever, dysentery. 4 This species has been traditionally used for wound dressing and healing of sores.…”