Antioxidant Activity of Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum) Leaves Ethanolic Extract through DPPH Assay

Abstract

International attention has been focused on natural antioxidants mainly from plant sources  to prevent and/or cure the disorders caused by free radicals but it is often highly expensive and many people cannot afford it so with this, the researcher aimed to determine the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract from the leaves of Saccharum spontaneum. Single-factor ANOVA shows that there is a significant difference between the different concentrations (40%, 70% and 95%) of ethanolic extract of talahib leaves and the commercially available drug, (ascorbic acid) as antioxidant agent. Scheffes’ Test reported that all the concentrations’ treatments give significance. Scatter plot shows positive correlation on the average absorbance of different concentrations of talahib leaves extract. This means that as the amount of Talahib extract increases, the absorbance rate increases as well. Further, the lowest concentration (40%) ethanolic extract of Talahib leaves gives the highest absorbance rate of DPPH Assay which means, it has the highest antioxidant activity. The research shows that the Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum) leaves ethanolic extract has antioxidant activity; The 40% concentration of Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum) leaves ethanolic extract gives the highest absorbance level of DPPH Assay; and Statistical data revealed that the Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum) leaves ethanolic extracts are as effective as the commercially available drug (ascorbic acid) as antioxidant agent. The researcher recommends the production of tablet which is made of Talahib leaves extract to harness this property. Replication of the study is highly encouraged to established validity of findings. that Talahib leaves should be formulated as a tablet.