The Effects of Solvents Polarity on the Phenolic Contents and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power of Cassytha filiformis, Commiphora schlechteri, Ochna natalitias and Pavetta assimilis

Abstract

In the present study, the levels of Total Phenols compounds (TPC) and the antioxidant capacity of different extracts from leaves of Cassytha filiformis (C. filiformis), Commiphora schlechteri (C. schlechterii), Ochna natalitias (O. natalitia) and Pavetta assimilis (P. assimilis) were evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteu and ferric ion reduction methods, respectively. The extracts evaluated were prepared with solvents of different polarities (n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and aqueous methanol). The total phenols found in all samples increase with solvent polarity. The reduction power found was linearly proportional to the concentration and is greater the greater the content of total phenolics. All extracts of the species O. natalitia (DCM, EtAcO and MetOH) showed higher antioxidant capacity than the other species. Thus, the promising results found in the present study suggest a high potential of these species as a source for the development of therapeutically useful natural antioxidants.