Abstract

Objective: To prepare different polarities crude extracts from the roots of Adenium obesum (AO) and to evaluate their total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity by FolinCiocalteu reagent, aluminum chloride and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods. Methods: Different polarities crude extracts were prepared through Soxhlet extractor and maceration methods by using different polarities organic solvents, and were used for the determination of antioxidant activity by using DPPH method with modification. The determination of total phenolics and flavonoid contents of the AO root crude extracts was conducted through Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride methods. Results: Different extraction methods led to different results. By Soxhlet method, the highest total phenolics content of different crude extracts was equivalent to the gallic acid in ethyl acetate while the lowest equaled to the gallic acid in methanol. However, by maceration method, the highest phenolics content was found in methanol and the lowest was in hexane. The maximum amount of total flavonoids through Soxhlet method was found in hexane and the minimum was in methanol. On the contrast, in maceration method, the maximum amount of total flavonoids was found in methanol and the minimum was in butanol crude extracts. In the case of antioxidant activity of different crude extracts from AO, by Soxhlet method, the highest one was equivalent to DPPH in methanol and the lowest one was in butanol. Dissimilarly, by maceration method, the highest antioxidant activity was in ethyl acetate while the lowest was in chloroform extracts. Conclusions: In conclusion, the crude extracts from the roots of AO show the high amount of total phenolics and flavonoids contents and it could be used as medicines.

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