Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of Epidendrum nocturnum

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of Epidendrum nocturnum using the DPPH technique to determine the capacity for scavenging free radicals, as well as to identify secondary metabolites in ethanolic extracts of the previously mentioned species by phytochemical screening, with analysis of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and triterpenes. The results determined in the phytochemical screening that the secondary metabolites that were most present were flavonoids, tannins, and saponins; no alkaloids or triterpenes were found. In the analysis of antioxidant activity, Epidendrum nocturnun in the three extracts showed that with an average concentration of 3.50 ppm, it could inhibit 50% of the free radicals present in the test solution.