Antioxidant potential of Malaysian medicinal plant

The objective of this research is to study the phytochemical content of Malaysian medicinal plants (Andrographis paniculata, Morinda Citrifolia and Ficus Deltoidea). This study involves the investigation on total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and DPPH scavenging activity using different method of extraction - hot extraction and ultrasonic assisted extraction. From the experiments, it can be seen that Ficus deltoidea leaves has the highest amount of phenolic content, flavonoid content and better scavenging activity compared to Andrographis paniculata and Morinda citrifolia. Each extraction was carried out with different solvents - water, 80% methanol and 80% ethanol. It is found that the solvents used for extraction has significant effect on phenolic content (p=0.0014) and flavonoid content (p=0.004) for all three plants used in this study. 80% methanol has the highest effect on the extraction of phytochemicals followed by 80% ethanol and water. As for DPPH scavenging, solvents do not have any significant effect on the scavenging activity. Ultrasonic assisted extraction is significantly better in extraction compared to water under the same conditions