Determination of Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents, Antioxidant Activities and GC-MS Analysis of Clinacanthus nutans (Acanthaceae) in Different Locations

Abstract

Clinacanthus nutans is an essential medicinal plant that had been used in various local remedies to treat many illnesses. A study had been conducted to determine the phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant activities and phytochemical compounds of C. nutans in different locations. C. nutans were harvested from eight locations and the leaves were extracted with 80 % methanol by maceration process. Then, the phytochemical screening using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), 2,2 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) assay method, total phenolic content by Folin-Ciocalteu's assay method and total flavonoid content by aluminium chloride (AlCl 3 ) were carried out. The C. nutans extracts showed higher antioxidant activities than phenolic and flavonoid content. The neutral pH sandy clay soil from location KKK (Kuala Ketil, Kedah, Malaysia) had higher antioxidant activities (58.0 %), phenolic (44.1 mg GA.100 g -1 ) and flavonoid content (30.8 mg QE.100 g -1 ) compared to other locations. The GC-MS analysis showed the presence of phytochemicals constituents of 20 compounds. The results revealed that environmental factors (light intensity, temperature and soil characteristics) of eight locations were responsible for variations of phenolic, flavonoids, antioxidants and GC-MS analysis in C. nutans. The findings of this study will provide baseline data for future breeding programs for commercial cultivation.

Antioxidant Effects, Antiproliferative Effects, and Molecular Docking of Clinacanthus nutans Leaf Extracts

“…However, Alam et al [27] reported that the crude methanol extract of C. nutans leaves had the lowest scavenging activity. These differences in results likely occurred because the plants are largely influenced by environmental conditions, such as temperature, rainfall, water variability, humidity, variations in soil pH, nutrient contents, and exposure to soil microorganisms [28]. Moreover, environmental factors interact with the genetics of the plants, which lead to genetic variations [29] that affect the phytochemical contents.…”

“…The TPC of C. nutans crude and fraction extracts was measured following Ismail et al [28], with slight modification. First, 1000 µg of each extract were diluted using 50% methanol to obtain 1000 µg/mL of sample concentration and then 1 mL of 100% Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was mixed with 9 mL of distilled water.…”

“…The TFC of C. nutans crude and fraction extracts was measured following Ismail et al [28]. A 100 µL aliquot of the prepared solutions (1000 µg/mL) of crude and fraction extracts of C. nutans leaves was added to 100 µL of 2% aluminum chloride and incubated for 10 min in the dark.…”

“…The antioxidant capacity was measured using the DPPH radical scavenging method, as described by Ismail et al [28], with some modifications. A 0.6 mM DPPH stock solution was prepared by dissolving 6 mg of DPPH in 25 mL of methanol.…”

Preliminary Acute Oral Toxicity Study of the Water Extract of Physalis Minima Leaves

“…Plants contribute many essential nutrients, vitamins and chemical compounds. Therefore, plants play an important role in the development of new drugs for the treatment and prevention of diseases [4][5][6][7] . Physalis minima is a member of the Solanaceae family and is known as letup-letup in Malaysia.…”