This article discusses on the natural compounds from the ant plant (Myrmecodia species, family: Rubiaceae

The Myrmecodia platytyrea extracts (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol) were screened using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) modified method against ascorbic acid (AA) and Trolox as the positive controls. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract was found potent compared to the other extracts with EC 50 value of 32.91 ± 2.23 µg/mL, whereas the EC 50 value of AA and trolox were 4.56 ± 0.41 µg/mL and 5.35 ± 0.66 µg/mL, respectively. Then, an automated gradient system of a preparative medium performance liquid chromatography (MPLC) technique was utilized to fractionate the potent EtOAc extract (6 gram). Later, the collected fractions were combined according to the TLC profiles and reduced to 8 fractions (F1 -F8). DPPH scavenging assay was carried out on the fractions and the EC 50 value of F5 was found lower with EC 50 value of 21.57 ± 1.40 µg/mL. This indicated that F5 was potent in scavenging free radical and this may be due to the rich phenolic constituents which are known as good antioxidants. Next, the ferrous ion chelating (FIC) ability was tested on the crude EtOAc extract and the result was inactive compared to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, IC 50 =23.15 ± 2.26 µg/mL), the standard used in this assay. The EtOAc fractions (F1 -F8) also underwent FIC test and surprisingly, the fractions (F1 and F2) were active with IC 50 values of 293.30 ± 19.86 µg/mL and 152.74 ± 9.95 µg/mL, respectively. Based on the data, M. platytyrea possessed promising antioxidant activity. Thus, this plant indeed is a medicinal plant, not only claimed by the community web portals but could be proven with the scientific evidences. Successive work would include the identification of the major chemical entities in this extract. This effort would append to more information of the former isolation of stigmasterol and a phenolic from the hexane extract of this plant.