Antioxidant potentialities and Antiradical Activities of <i>Oxalis corniculata</i> Linn from Tanzania.

Abstract

Introduction:This study provides essential antioxidant potentialities of the plant Oxalis corniculata Linn (creeping wood sorrell) indigenous from Tanzania and the associated precursors of biochemical compounds responsible for its folkloric pharmacological rationales. Methodology and Results: Extracts were made from the whole plant using methanol and ethanol solvents. DPPH assay was used to evaluate its antioxidant potentials while phytochemical screening for precursors of biochemical compounds responsible for its pharmacological rationales was qualitatively determined. Total antioxidant necessary to decrease the initial DPPH radical concentration by 50% (EC50) value, were obtained from the linear regression plots of Sigma Plot R (2001). Results showed significant activities in all antioxidant assays compared to the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid in a dose dependent manner. In DPPH scavenging assay the EC50 value of the crude extract was found to be 0.04 mg/ml while that of the reference standard ascorbic acid was 0.59 mg/ml. Likewise the highest iron chelating ability of 97.31% was obtained at a higher crude extract concentration of 0.4 mM while the lowest ability of 23.25% was obtained at the lowest crude extract concentration of 0.001mM. It also portrayed high antiradical activities of up to EAU515 = 1.868 number of antiradical unit and several precursors of biochemical compounds including Flavonoids, Terpenoids, Coumarins, Glycosides, as well as Steroids and Phytosteroids. Conclusion and application of results: The results indicated that Oxalis corniculata could be an important dietary source of antioxidants with high scavenging abilities as well as rich in biomolecules that are precursors of most biologically active chemicals of medical importance. These findings may thus, justify their wide usage in traditional medicine and envisage a purposeful thoroughly study for possible developments into nutraceutical and drugs.

Utilization of Oxalis corniculata Linn as a traditional medicine and its bioactivity

“…DPPH test, the ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest free radical scavenging activity, 24.0% with a concentration of 1 mg/mL [19]. The methanol and ethanol extracts of O. corniculata showed significant activity in all antioxidant assays compared to the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid [16].…”

“…The search for antioxidant compounds continues to be carried out, especially plants that can be used as food ingredients, including O. corniculata. The O. corniculata can be an important food source of antioxidants with high scavenging ability and rich in biomolecules which are the precursors of most of the biologically active chemicals of medical importance [16].…”

“…When explored further, reports on the use of O. corniculata as an antioxidant are more prominent than other bioactivities and have been reported by Durgawale et al [10], Ahmad et al [18], Swami & Malpathak [6], Khyadea et al [17], Ahmed et al [19], Tibuhwa [16], and Borah et al [20]. Frequently used reference compounds such as gallic acid, rutin, ascorbic acid for in vitro antioxidant assays [7].…”

Phytochemical Screening and Biological Activities of Oxalis corniculata Leaves of Sindhupalchowk District, Nepal

“…Ahmed et al also reported good antioxidant activities of methanol extract and its sub-fractions in various solvents of Oxalis corniculata [27]. Tibuhwa also explored the antioxidant activities and suggested it as the source of side effect-free natural antioxidants which could be the best alternative to synthetic antioxidants in the food processing industry and also possible used in preventive medicine [28]. As antioxidants, flavonoids from these plants provide anti-inflammatory activity [29].…”