Objective: This study has been designed to study phenolic and flavonoid contents quantitatively; screen antioxidant activity and investigate unsaponifiable and saponifiable matters of Euphorbia grandialata R. aerial parts.
Methods: Total phenolic and flavonoid content were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminium chloride methods respectively, while 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was used for anti-oxidant assay. GC/MS analysis was used to analyse unsaponifiable and saponifiable matters.
Results: Total phenolics result was calculated as (17.61 ± 1.2 μg gallic acid /g), total flavonoids as (4.495 ± 0.39 μg rutin/g) and anti-oxidants activity as (140.6 % μg ascorbic acid/g). The identified compounds in unsaponifiable matter were hydrocarbons (51.1 %), steroids and triterpenes (35.92%). The saponifiable matter showed fourteen components from which six were identified as methyl esters of saturated fatty acids (46.26%) and eight as methyl esters of unsaturated fatty acids (53.74 %).
Conclusion: Euphorbia grandialata could be considered as a valuable source of natural antioxidants. This is the first report for phenolics and flavonoids content, antioxidant activity and GC/MS analysis of this plant.
Key words: Euphorbiaceae, phenolics, DPPH, GC/MS , flavonoids
|
