DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v26i1.96

Keywords: Antioxidant; antimicrobial; phytochemicals; Arcangelisia flava; sequential extraction

Abstract

In the Philippines, Arcangelisia flava, also known as albotra, has been used as an alternative treatment for a variety of diseases, including tumors, myoma, diabetes, and reproductive disorders. Its medicinal properties are attributable to the phytochemicals it contains. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemicals responsible for the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of A. flava stem extracts. Using sequential extraction with solvents of increasing polarity, three crude extracts were obtained: ethyl acetate, methanolic, and water extract. The extraction yield per gram of dried extract were 0.47 ± 0.65, 5.70 ± 0.44, and 5.85 %, respectively. Total phenolic content of ethyl acetate and methanolic extract were 162.30 ± 6.88 and 177.57 ± 23.31 mgGAE/g extract, respectively. Phytochemical analysis detected the presence of alkaloids and saponins in the three extracts. Ethyl acetate extract was also found to contain terpenoids, flavonoids, and cardiac glycosides. The antioxidant assays also showed different trend in the antioxidant capacity of the three crude extracts. In DPPH, water extracts had the highest antioxidant activity of 0.714 ± 0.006 mmol Trolox equivalent per gram of dried extract (TEAC/g) and is significantly different to the values of AEC and AMC. Meanwhile, in the CUPRAC and FRAP assay, methanolic extract had the highest antioxidant activity compared to ethyl acetate and water extract. In addition, the disc and well diffusion method revealed that at concentrations of 10 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL, the methanolic extract exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal activity against Candida tropicalis. Antimicrobial activities may be possible because of the phytochemicals that have been identified in these extracts of A. flava. This study suggests that the methanolic extract of A. flava stems is an excellent candidate for the purification and isolation of compounds responsible for antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.