Free-radical Scavenging and Quantitative Estimation of Flavonoids from the Polar Extracts of Corchorus depressus Leaves

Background: The investigation of total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of polar extracts of Corchorus depressus is the major aim of this study. As observed from ancient literatures and folkloric claims the plant Corchorus depressus worshipped by the married women of Odisha, India, in the rituals called as “Jama Jutia”, possesses different biological activities including antioxidant property.

Methods: The diphenyl picryl hydrazine, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide radical scavenging methods were performed for measurement of the antioxidant activity at different extracts. The flavonoid and phenolic content of the extracts were determined by using aluminium chloride and Folin-Ciocalteau’s reagent (FCR) methods respectively.

Results: The results for estimation of total phenolic content (mg/ 100 g) expressed as gallic acid equivalent (GAE) and total flavonoid (mg/ 100 g) in weight of quercetin equivalent (QE) was highest in methanolic extract 78.46 and 21.2 respectively, followed by 18.18 mg/100 g in GAE and 1.80 mg/100 g in QE for aqueous extract.

Conclusion: The methanolic extract of C. depressus at 100µg/ml showed highest DPPH, hydroxyl and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity and this activity may be attributed to the presence of saponins and flavonoids as detected in the extract.