Method Development: The Antioxidant and Antifungal Activity of the Isolated Component from the Ethanolic Extract of Tecoma stans Leaves Using Flash Chromatography

Abstract

Tecoma stans is an ornamental perennial tropical and subtropical plant belonging to the Bignoniaceae family with green leaves and yellow attractive fragrance flowers and commonly known as yellow trumpetbush or yellow bells. The plant originated in the tropical areas of South America and Mexico and has been cultivated in many countries such as Egypt, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). T. stans has been found in different parts of the UAE such as Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, where it can be seen in public parks, side roads, and home gardens. The Flash Chromatography System is used in different aspects of drug discovery studies because of its ability to purify secondary metabolites from crude plant extracts. A method was developed using the Flash Chromatography System to isolate three components from the ethanolic extract of T. stans leaves that showed in vitro antioxidant activity. In vitro evaluation of the antioxidant activity of the isolated components of T. stans was conducted using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl and 2, 2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid methods. Isolated components A-4, A-3, and A-2 had antioxidant activity when compared to ascorbic acid. Component A-3 showed antioxidant activity using the DPPH and ABTS methods; antifungal activities when tested against Candida albicans; and more than 80% inhibitions in the third dilution when compared to itraconazole and nystatin as positive controls. This rapid and efficient method using flash chromatography was used for the isolation and purification of an isolated component A-3 that showed both antioxidant and antifungal activities.