Potent antioxidant activity of Kigelia africana flower fractions on cell-free systems

Abstract

The aim of this work is to explore the antioxidant properties of three organic fractions obtained from Kigelia africana flowers on several cell-free systems. The vegetal material was subject to extraction with ethanol (90%) by soxhlet apparatus. Ethanolic (EF), ethylacetate (EAF) and buthanolic (BF) fractions were obtained from crude ethanolic solution by liquid-liquid extraction procedures. Total Phenolic content (TPC) and Total Flavonoids content (TFC) were determined by FolinCiocalteu and AlCl 3 spectrophotometric methods respectively. The antioxidant and radical scavenging profile was assessed through 2, 2 – diphenyl – 1 – picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Reducting power, Total antioxidant activity and Metal Chelating tests. Quercetin, rutin, gallic acid, hesperidin, ascorbic acid and Na2EDTA were used as references. The antioxidant potency was strongly related with TPC and TFC values. This study reveals for the first time the antioxidant properties of K. africana flower fractions on cell-free systems.