Antioxidant Activity of Ethanol Extract of Polygonum pulchrum Blume

Abstract

The use of antioxidants from natural resources has attracted increasing interest. One of the
plant that was empirically used as an antioxidant dietary supplement was Polygonum pulchrum
Blume (P. pulchrum Blume). This study aimed to investigate antioxidant activity
of roots, stems, leaves and flowers ethanol extract of P. pulchrum Blume. The extract was
obtained by maceration method using ethanol solvent. Antioxidant activity was determined
with 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. We found that ethanol extracts of P. pulchrum
Blume roots and stems had strong antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 25.2 mg/l
and 43.26 mg/l, respectively. Ethanol extract of flowers had the weakest antioxidant activity
with IC50 value of 202.96 mg/l. Vitamin C had very strong antioxidant activity with IC50
value of 3.97 mg/l. In conclusion, our study revealed that ethanol extract of Polygonum
pulchrum Blume roots and stems had strong antioxidant activity. Therefore, P. pulchrum
Blume might be potential as an excellent source for natural antioxidant agents for medical
application.

Keywords: Polygonum pulchrum Blume, DPPH, antioxidant, maceration, ethanol