Screening of Salvadora persica leaves for antioxidant properties and total phenolic content

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the antioxidant properties of Salvadora persica leaf extracts using various in vitro assays and compare them with the total phenolic content. Petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, methanol, and aqueous extracts were assessed for their ability to scavenge free radicals such as DPPH, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals along with metal chelating capacity and reducing power. Estimation of phenolic content was done using the Folin-ciocalteu reagent and expressed as mg/g Gallic acid equivalent. The results demonstrated that all the solvents exhibited significant concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity. Among the five extracts, the methanolic extract displayed the highest antioxidant activity and contained 52.64 mg/g Gallic acid equivalents (GAE) of phenolic content. The study identified significant correlation between the total phenolic content and the antioxidant assays suggesting role of phenolic compounds to the antioxidant activity of S. persica extracts. These findings suggest that the methanolic extract of S. persica is rich in phenolic compounds, which may account for its potent antioxidant activity. Consequently, these results emphasize the potential of S. persica as a valuable source of natural antioxidants and provide scientific support for its use in treating various health conditions.