Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of in vitro Antioxidant potential of Ethanolic Stem Bark Extract of Balanites aegyptiaca Del

Abstract

Introduction: Free radicals such as ROS and RNS are reactive molecules involved in many biological processes and up-regulated levels of these free radicals have been associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory-related diseases. Balanites aegyptiaca Del medicinal plant belongs to family Zygophyllaceae has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous inflammatory-related diseases and best remedy for stomach ache and jaundice. Objectives: The present study was designed to undertake to evaluate the antioxidant potential of ethanolic stem bark extract of B. aegyptiaca by using various in vitro antioxidant assays. Methods: The stem bark ethanolic extract of B. aegyptiaca was obtained by using Soxhlet apparatus in 1:5 ratios (plant material and ethanol) and further subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis and Total antioxidant capacity, in vitro DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power. Results: The quantitative phytochemical analysis of stem bark ethanolic extract B. aegyptiaca revealed that the presence of the considerable amount of flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, and alkaloids and further, the total antioxidant activity of stem bark ethanolic extract of B. aegyptiaca was determined as 82.41µg/ 250µg, showed significant DPPH scavenging activity at 250μg/ml was 67.39% with the IC50 value of 55.41μg/ml and exhibited maximum reducing power was found at 250μg/ml was 0.412 O.D at 700 nm. Conclusion: It can be concluded that stem bark ethanolic extract of B. aegyptiaca showed promising reducing and DPPH radical scavenging activity due to the presence of antioxidant compounds and these compounds might serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants, for treatment of various oxidative stress-related diseases.