Evaluation of Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoid Content And Antioxidant Activity of Rhus Vulgaris
Abstract Background: Rhus vulgaris is rich in various classes of polyphenols and flavonoids that act as free radical scavengers and reduce oxidative stress and cure various harmful human diseases. The plant is a traditionally known medicinal plant which is used against a number of diseases including cancer. Methods: The current investigation points towards the investigating quantitative phenolic contents, flavonoid contents and the free radical scavenging activity & antioxidant activity of Rhus vulgaris extract in n-hexane, acetone, and 80% of aqueous methanol. The phenolic contents were estimated by Folin–Ciocalteu procedure and gallic acid as a reference molecule whereas the total flavonoid contents were determined by using aluminum chloride and catechin. In addition, the dilution serial method was used to evaluate the leaves extract of rhus vulgaris, and the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method was utilized to assess the above-mentioned extracts against oxidative stress. Results: The result revealed that the ranges of total phenolic content from 5.82 ± 4.6 to 83.15 ± 7.6 mg GAE/g of the dry weight of extract, expressed as gallic acid equivalents. The total flavonoid concentrations were varied from 2.21 ± 7.34to 23.47 ± 4.87 mg CE/g, expressed as catechin equivalents. Antioxidant activity of extracts was expressed as the concentration of DPPH radical’s inhibition ranges from 1.2 ± 0.32 to 22.86 ± 3.71 mg AAE/ g. Conclusion: The 80% aqueous methanolic extract of Rhus vulgaris showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents and strong antioxidant potential and it could be used as antibiotics for different curable and incurable diseases.