Phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Phymatopteris hastata

Abstract

Various solvent extracts of Phymatopteris hastata, a traditional Chinese medicinal material, were screened for their antioxidant activities. Four systems of in vitro testing were employed to investigate the antiradical and antioxidant effect, i.e., the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) systems, the hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and the reducing power. In addition, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a widely used synthetic antioxidant, was also studied for comparison. The results revealed that the ethyl acetate extract exhibited outstanding antioxidant activities, which was close or even superior to BHT. Furthermore, the total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) contents of different extracts were measured, expressed as gallic acid and rutin equivalent, respectively. The antioxidant activities and the TP/TF content of different extracts followed the same order: ethyl acetate extract > butyl alcohol extract > petroleum ether extract, showing a good correlation between the antioxidant activities and the TP/TF content. The results showed that these extracts, especially the ethyl acetate extract, were rich in phenolics and flavonoids and could be considered as natural antioxidants

Anti-Proliferative, Antioxidant and Iron-Chelating Properties of the Tropical Highland Fern, <i>Phymatopteris triloba</i> (Houtt) <i>Pichi Serm</i> (Family Polypodiaceae)

“…Our results reveal that the rhizome extract is a richer source of protocatechuic, gallic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids than the leaf extract. Protocatechuic and gallic acids were previously detected in P. hastata, a related species used in Traditional Chinese Medicine [2,3]. Rutin was detected in organic solvent extracts of P. hastata by HPLC analysis [2], but we did not detect any rutin in the aqueous extracts of P. triloba leaves and rhizomes.…”

“…Protocatechuic and gallic acids were previously detected in P. hastata, a related species used in Traditional Chinese Medicine [2,3]. Rutin was detected in organic solvent extracts of P. hastata by HPLC analysis [2], but we did not detect any rutin in the aqueous extracts of P. triloba leaves and rhizomes. Whether this reflects an interspecies difference or discrepancy resulting from different extraction methodologies is unclear and can be clarified when more data become available.…”

“…Pichi Serm. is used as a traditional remedy in China for diarrhea, bronchitis, influenza, and other diseases [2]. Antioxidant activities of P. hastata extracts and antioxidant phenolic compounds isolated from P. hastata were recently reported [2,3].…”

“…Similarly, the superoxide and nitric oxide scavenging potential of the genus Phymatopteris is unknown. Moreover, except for P. hastata [2,3], nothing is known about the phenolic profiles of other species in the genus Phymatopteris. Hence, to fill in gaps in current knowledge about the bioactivity of the genus Phymatopteris, we had two objectives in this study: first, to determine the phenolic acid and flavonoid constituents of P. triloba leaf and rhizome extracts; second, to assess the anti-proliferative, radical scavenging and iron-chelating activities of the extracts.…”

Phytochemicals from fern species: potential for medicine applications

“…Two Phymatopteris species (Family Polypodiaceae) are used in traditional medicine. P. hastata is used in China as a remedy for various diseases including diarrhoea, bronchitis, and influenza, as well as conditions such as carbuncles, furunculosis, and viper bites (Su et al 2011). On the other hand, in Nepal, P. quasidivaricata is used as a traditional treatment for musculo-skeletal problems and dermatological infections (Uprety et al 2010).…”