Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Potentials of Methanol Extract of Duranta erecta Leaves

Plant extracts that have antioxidant activities show promising effect in the management of many diseases initiated by oxidative stress. The present study evaluates the phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant potentials of methanol extract of Duranta erecta leaves. The extract was subjected to phytochemical screening, DPPH inhibition, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitric oxide determination, antioxidant vitamins and minerals composition analysis. All analyses were carried out using standard biochemical methods. The phytochemical evaluation of the plant extract showed the presence of flavonoids (24.20 ± 0.14 mg QE/g), Alkaloids (15.87 ± 1.71 mg/g), total phenol (12.73 ± 0.61 mg GAE/g), tannins (9.24 ± 0.03 mg TAE/g), terpenoids (8.90 ± 0.96 mg/g), steroids (2.65 ± 0.55 mg/g) and saponins (5.55 ± 0.76 mg/g). The in vitro antioxidant determination showed that the extract had antioxidant properties in a concentration dependent manner. The antioxidant property of the sample was compared to that of ascorbic acid (for DPPH and nitric oxide determination) and gallic acid (for FRAP) as standards. The antioxidant mineral composition of the extract revealed the presence of zinc (1.82 ± 0.03 mg/100g) and selenium (0.59 ± 0.04 mg/100g). The antioxidant vitamins composition of the extract showed moderate concentrations of vitamin C (0.35 ± 0.01 mg/100 g) and vitamin E (0.68 ± 0.07 mg/100g). The result of this study revealed that methanol extract of Duranta erecta leaves could be a good source of antioxidants.