Analysis of the phytochemical contents and anti-oxidative properties of Stenochlaena palustris

Abstract

Stenochlaena palustris (Burm. f.) Bedd, a popular edible fern in Southeast Asia, is considered nutritious and beneficial for human health. It is believed that the presence of several micronutrients and antioxidants might be the reason for its speculated beneficial effects and its usage in traditional medicine. In order to assess the nutritional properties of this particular herb, we have investigated the presence of several phytochemicals in S. palustris along with their total phenolics (TP) and total flavonoids (TF) contents. The total phytochemicals were extracted using hydrophilic and hydrophobic solvents [polar (ethanol), partially polar (ethyl acetate), and non-polar (hexane)], and their antioxidative properties were determined. The results obtained showed that the leaf of S. palustris extracted using ethanol and ethyl-acetate contained higher phenolics and flavonoids when compared with other parts of the plant extracts. The ethanolic leaf extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activities in all of the methods used to determine antioxidative property as compared to other parts of the plants, with FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH assays value of 17.95 mM Fe2+/g, 0.062 mM TE/g, and IC50 of 24.24 üg/ml, respectively. The IC50 value of the sample was comparable with that of ascorbic acid which was used as standard antioxidant. In the present work, we have used special types of S. palustris which was collected from a site free from environmental toxins and human intrusion. Though this is a common herb in this part, but information on phytochemicals of S. palustris is lacking, especially from this part of Borneo. Our findings address the comparison between different solvent extracts followed by their bioactive properties.