Antioxidant Activity of Euphorbia hirta Linn Leaves Extracts

In the present study, the objectives were to determine the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activities of aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts of the leaves of Euphorbia hirta. The crude extracts were investigated for its total phenolic and flavonoid content by using Folin-Coicalteu assays and Aluminium chloride colorimetric method. It was found that Euphorbia hirta ethanol extract had highest total phenolic and flavonoid content compared to other extracts. In addition, the antioxidant activity of three extracts was tested by DPPH (1,1’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay, superoxide radical scavenging assay and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. From the result, it is concluded that ethanolic extract has a strong percentage of inhibition with lower IC50 value than aqueous and methanol extract. The results indicate that there was a direct correlation between total phenol and antioxidant activity. This study confirmed that the leaves of Euphorbia hirta possess antioxidant property to scavenge the free radical.