Abstract:
Plectranthus edulis (Ethiopian potato) which are cultivated in three different districts found in awi zone Amhara region (Ethiopia) were analyzed for the estimation of their total secondary metabolites (polyphenols and flavonoids) content and their free radical scavenging activity. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were investigated spectrophotometrically using Folin-Denis and aluminum chloride methods respectively. The free radical scavenging activity (antioxidant activity) was determined by using DPPH radical scavenging method. Results of analysis showed that the total polyphenols varied from 6.92 ± 0.403 to 8.23 ± 0.143 mg of Gallic acid equivalents (GAE) /g of dry weight, corresponding Besena to Woinima Plectranthus edulis root sample. Flavonoids were not detected in all samples. The free radical scavenging activity between the samples was ranged from 72.46% (Woinima) to 81.87% (Quancha). The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) Values varied from 157.57 ± 0.0714 (Besena) to 203.58 ± 0.665 µg/mL (Woinima) Plectranthus edulis sample at p< 0.05. The correlation between the antioxidant activity with total polyphenols (R=0.791) was evaluated and found that the polyphenols were responsible for the free radical scavenging activity of the samples in the present study.
KEY WORDS:Plectranthus edulis, Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Antioxidant activity, Folin-Denise Method, Aluminum chloride Method and DPPH Assay