Phytochemical screening and preliminary evaluation of antioxidant activity of three Indonesian Araucaria leaves extracts

Araucaria is the largest genus in Araucariaceae and is well known as an evergreen coniferous tree. Several species of Araucaria have been used as traditional medicinal plants. This study aims to determine the phytochemical constituents, and preliminary antioxidant activities of three Indonesian Araucaria, i.e. A. hunsteinii, A. columnaris, and A. cunninghamii leaves extracts. All the leaves of Indonesian Araucaria were macerated in acetone to give acetone extracts. A qualitative phytochemical screening method was used to determine the class of secondary metabolites in the three leaves extracts, including alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, and tannins. In addition, the preliminary antioxidant activity of the corresponding extract was determined by spraying DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) to the TLC plate, which will turn a yellow spot as a positive result. The yield of acetone extract of A. columnaris, and A. cunninghamii, A. hunsteinii were 0.85%, 1.64%, and 3.07%, respectively. Phytochemical analysis showed that all leaves acetone extracts contained flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, phenolics, and tannins. Furthermore, the strongest to the weakest antioxidant activities were summarized as follows A. hunsteinii, A. columnaris, and A. cunninghamii, sequentially. These preliminary results reveal that all Indonesian Araucaria leaves extracts are potential for further study.