SPECTROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES BASED CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIALS OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF LUFFA CYLINDRICA

MATTHIAS CHUKWUEMEKA OMINYI

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i7.54359

Authors

MATTHIAS CHUKWUEMEKA OMINYI Department of Biotechnology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i7.54359

Keywords:

Luffa cylindrical, antioxidant,, silymarin,, catechin,, 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol,, spectroscopy, characterization.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the bioactive profile and evaluate the antioxidant activity of the ethanol leaf extract of Luffa cylindrica using various in vitro antioxidant assays.

Methods: The bioactive components of the extract were analyzed using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Various antioxidant assays, including nitric oxide, superoxide, hydroxyl radical, 2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide, and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging activities, were performed to evaluate the antioxidant potentials of the extract. In addition, the total antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) inhibitory activities were also determined to assess the overall in vitro antioxidant capacity of the extract. The results were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis with the degree of significance set at p<0.05.

Results: The GC-FID analysis revealed the presence of 22 bioactive compounds, with a total concentration of 217.43072 ppm. The most abundant bioactive compound was silymarin (158.94587 ppm), followed by apigenin (8.412 ppm), catechin (5.72264 ppm), apigenin (4.03142 ppm), artemetin (2.63596 ppm), vanillic (2.26698 ppm), and epicatechin (2.05439 ppm) and others. The GC-MS analysis identified 30 prominent bioactive compounds, including 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol (8.08%), apigenin (7.73%), dodecane (4.89%), chlorogenic acid (4.71%), carbonic acid, nonyl vinyl ester (3.73%), and limonene (3.38%). The antioxidant properties of the extract were evidenced by its ability to scavenge nitric oxide (2.02–2.47 μg/mL), superoxide (65.74–73.89%), DPPH (93.1–94.8%), and inhibitory activity on FRAP ranges from 33.487–79.345% among others at various concentrations.

Conclusion: The extract exhibited a rich bioactive composition and potent antioxidant properties, suggesting its potential therapeutic applications in the management of oxidative stress-related diseases and other degenerative health conditions.

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