Antioxidant Properties and Phenolics Content of Mikania scandens L.(Wild)

Mikania scandens, belongs to the Asteraceae family, is a fast growing perennial creeper found in Malaysia. Traditionally, this plant has been used for treatments of diarrhoae, cancer and wound healing. The main objective of the study was to examine the antioxidant activities of Mikania scandens extracts. Whole plants were collected, dried and macerated sequentially in four different solvents, starting from Hexane (H), Ethyl acetate (EA), Ethanol (E) and Water (W). Ferric Reducing-Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and (3-carotene bleaching methods were employed. Total phenolics and flavonoids content of the plant extracts were also determined. All Mikania scandens extracts, exhibited relatively good antioxidant activities in both assays. For the FRAP assay, the rank order of antioxidant activity is E > trolox =quercetin > W > EA > H. For the (3-carotene bleaching assay, ethanol extracts remained the most potent extracts followed by H > EA > W. Ethanol extracts possessed the highest activities with potency as good as quercetin and trolox as exhibited in both assays. There is a positive correlation between phenolics content and antioxidant activity of the extracts based on the FRAP assay