Chemical estimation of the antiradical and total phenolic contents of some egyptian ficus species

Abstract EN

Many reports have proved association of free radicals and oxidative stress in various diseases like aging, inflammation, arthritis, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The chemical estimation of the antiradical properties of each methanol extract of the leaves of eleven Ficus species growing in Egypt using radical scavenging activity of 1,1 diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) revealed the presence of six species; Ficus afzelli G., F.

decora Hort., F.

lyrata Warb., F.

nitida L., F.

virens Ait.

and F.

sycomorus L.; have antiradical activity with SC50 < 100 ug/ml.

fractionation of the methanol extract of each plant species using different organic solvents; pet.

ether, CHC13, EtOAc and w-BuOH; was carried out.

Screening the different fraction as antiradical showed that EtOAc and «-BuOH fractions have antiradical activity at SC50 < 50 ug/ml whereas pet.

ether and CHC13 fractions at SC50 > 200 and 100 ug/ml respectively.

Also, the total antioxidant capacity of the EtOAc and «-BuOH fractions of the six species was estimated using phosphomolybdenum methods.

Preliminary phytochemical investigation of the EtOAc and w-BuOH fractions of each plant species using some phytochemical reactions, TLC and PC revealed the presence of phenolic compounds as major components.

Due to this the total phenolic, tannin, flavonoid and flavonol contents of the EtOAc and rc-BuOH fractions of each plant species were estimated.

The results showed that there is a linear correlation between the antiradical and antioxidant capacity with the total phenolic contents of the examined fractions.

This is the first report on the chemical estimation of the antiradical and total phenolic contents of these Egyptian species and now the most active species will be prepared for chromatographic isolation and identification using the bioassay guided fractionation and isolation protocol along with in vivo study on the active fractions.

Key Words: Antiradical, DPPH, Ficus, Phenolic, Flavonoid.