<strong>Antioxidant properties of oyster plant (<em>Tradescantia spathacea</em>) extracts using different methods</strong>

Abstract

;. Graphical Abstract AbstractPlants are a large source of antioxidant compounds. This project presents the determination of the antioxidant capacity of the Oyster Plant (Tradescantia Spathacea). The samples consisted of ethanol/hexane extracts of the stems, roots, and leaves. The antioxidant activity was measured by three different assays: ferric reducing anti-oxidant power assay (FRAP), DPPH free radical scavenging (FRS) method in vitro antioxidant activity and is expressed as ascorbic acid (AA) equivalent antioxidant capacity (mg AA/100g). The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined with the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and expressed as mg/g gallic acid equivalents (GAE). This study showed that Tradescantia Spathacea extracts contain a number of health promoting bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, and are potential sources of natural antioxidants. IntroductionMedicinal plants and plant derived products have been part of the health-care system since ancient human civilization. Traditional medicine is widely used, and plants are a large source of antioxidant compounds such as phenols, carotenoids, and flavonoids with potent antioxidant properties that have received much attention recently. The Oyster Plant (Tradescantia Spathacea) is a fleshy or succulent perennial garden herb ornamental plant and is found in many tropical countries. Medicinally, the plant is used for colds, sore throat, whooping cough, nasal bleeding, and is also used as an antiinflammatory. The plant was grown in the organic garden at St. Thomas University and the ethanol/hexane extracts via maceration of the roots and leaves were analyzed to measure the antioxidant activity by three different assays: Ferric reducing power (FRAP), DPPH free radical scavenging (FRS) and total phenolic content (TPC).