Antioxidant potential of phenolic extracts of Mimusops elengi

Objective:To evaluate the antioxidant potential of the phenolic extracts of Mimusops elengi（M.elengi） L.（Sapotaceae）.Methods:The extract of stem bark and seeds of M.elengi were prepared in methanol and acefone:water（7:3）.The acetone:water was further partitioned with ethyl acetate and n-butanol.Antioxidant activity of the extracts and partitioned fractions of M.elengi was evaluated in terms of radical scavenging potential（DPPH）,inhibition of lipid peroxidation[ferric thiocyanate（FTC）],and total antioxidant activity（phosphomolybdate method）.Total phenolics content were calculated using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent.Results:The stem bark extract partitioned with ethyl acetate exhibited highest amount ol total phenols（98.0 mg GAE/g dry weight）,among all other extracts,with 92.0%DPPH radical scavenging activity al concentration of0.5 mg/mL.while methanol extract（stem bark） had maximum inhibition ol lipid peroxidation（62.0%）and total antioxidant activity（771.0 mg/g GAE/g）.A positive correlation occurred between tolal phenols and radical scavenging activity（R;= 0.9229） and total antioxidant activity（R;= 0.9451）.Conclusions:Our study suggested that antioxidant activity of stembark extract of M.elengi is due the presence of phenolic compounds.Furthermore,the hark extract is a valuable source of natural antioxidants.