Antioxidant potentials of Acanthus ilicifolius leaves from Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Abstract

This research delves into the antioxidant potential of Acanthus ilicifolius leaves harvested from the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. Four distinct solvents—methanol, ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate—were utilized to determine antioxidant activities. Initial phytochemical screening unveiled the existence of many secondary metabolites, including as flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, and others. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and total proanthocyanidin content were determined using quantitative analysis. The assessment of antioxidant activity was conducted using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging assays. Notably, the acetone extract of Acanthus ilicifolius exhibited the highest total phenolic content (24.75 mg of GA/g), total flavonoid content (12.9 mg of catechin/g), and total proanthocyanidins content (11.47 mg of catechin/g). The ethanol extract displayed the most robust antioxidant activity in both DPPH (91.41 %) and ABTS (66.78 %) scavenging assays among the crude extracts, underscoring its potential as a valuable source of antioxidants. The results emphasise the crucial importance of choosing the appropriate solvent in the extraction procedure and suggest that Acanthus ilicifolius leaves, particularly when extracted with ethanol, acetone, or methanol, hold promise as a natural source of antioxidants. This study offers valuable insights into the bioactive potential of Acanthus ilicifolius leaves.