Antioxidant potential of <i>Habiscus cannabinus</i> methanolic leaf extract

Abstract

The antioxidant properties of Methanolic leaf extract of Hibiscus cannabinus (Malvaceae family), was investigated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) assay method, reducing power and hydrogen peroxide scavenging effect assays. The Methanolic leaf extract, exhibited significant scavenging effect on DPPH free radical and hydrogen peroxide production at a lower concentration of the extract when compared with ascorbic acids and á- tocopherol standard antioxidants. The highest free-radical scavenging and percentage scavenging effect of hydrogen peroxide by the Methanolic leaf extract was observed at concentrations 31.25 and 250ìg/ml respectively; with 76.03% and 62.26% inhibition/scavenging effect respectively. However,  reducing power showed low activity for the leaf extract.

Keywords: DPPH, Ascorbic acid, á-tocopherol, Hibiscus cannabinus, flavonoid, hydrogen peroxide, free-radical.