In vitro antioxidant activity and phytochemical analyses of Acalypha godseffiana (Euphobiaceae) leaf extracts

The presence of various bioactive components makes it necessary to analyse plants for their potential to act as a source of useful treatments and cures for many inflammatory, infectious and pathogenic diseases. This study was carried out to determine phytochemicals and in-vitro antioxidant activities of the leaf extracts of Acalypha godseffiana. The leaves of A. godseffiana were collected, dried, pulverized and extracted separately with methanol and water using maceration method. The extract was concentrated in vacuo with rotary evaporator at 40oC. The extracts were subjected to quantitative phytochemical analysis and different anti-oxidant analytical procedures like FRAP, DPPH etc to determine the radical scavenging capabilities. The results of phytochemical analysis estimated the quantities and revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and terpenoids which varied in both extracts. The methanol and aqueous extracts exhibited antioxidant activities with relatively high IC50 (IC50 = 3.67 ìg/ml and 4.42ìg/ml respectively) which accounted for a low free radical-scavenging activity when compared with the reference antioxidant, vitamin C (IC50 = 1.51ìg/ml). The results of the study indicates that A. godseffiana leaf extracts contain secondary metabolites and possesses antioxidant properties.