Chemical Composition and, Cellular Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Desmodium adscendens Leaves

Abstract EN

Desmodium adscendens plant is widely used as juice or tea in various parts of the world against a wide range of diseases.

This study determines the quality and the quantity of polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins in D.

adscendens leaves by UV-spectrophotometry and RP-HPLC methods.

In addition, the antioxidant capacity of these phenolic compounds is evaluated by ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic)), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl), and Cellular tests.

D.

adscendens leaves are mainly composite of flavonoid compounds with 12.8 mg of catechin equivalent (CE)/g dw.

The amounts of total polyphenol compounds are 11.1 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dw.

The quantity of total anthocyanin and total tannin compounds is not considerable 0.0182 mg CgE/g dw and 0.39 mg CE/g dw, respectively.

A direct correlation between phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity is observed (R2=0.96).

The RP-HPLC analyses reveal that the main phenolic compound identified in the methanol-water extract is quercetrin dihydrat (2.11 mg/mL).

According to the results, it is observed that D.

adscendens leaves possess a considerable scavenging antioxidant and antiradical capacity, therefore these antioxidant properties might increase the therapeutic value of this medicinal plant.