Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant, phytotoxic and anti-urease properties of dichloromethane and
methanol extracts of
Conocarpus lancifolius
in correlation with total phenolic and flavonoid contents.
Methods: The whole plant (dried aerial parts and root) of
Conocarpus lancifolius was extracted
successively with dichloromethane, methanol and water at room temperature. Antioxidant activity was
determined by DPPH, Nitric oxide scavenging and FRAP methods. Phytotoxicity was performed by
Lemna minor
assay and analyzed relative to control with effective dose (ED
50) to determine FI
50 values
(concentration necessary to inhibit
50 % frond proliferation) and 65 % confidence intervals. Urease
inhibitory activity was assessed at a concentration of 125 μg/mL by Berthelot reaction with slight
modification. Total phenolic contents were calculated with reference to gallic acid equivalent and
confirmed by Folin and Ciocalteau’s phenol method. Total flavonoid was determined with reference to
quercetin.
Results: The DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of the methanol extract were 93.35 %.
The phytotoxicity of the methanol extract was 90 % growth regulation while the anti-urease inhibitory
activity was 91.1 % with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC
50) of 49.1 ± 1.3 μg/mL. Total flavonoid
contents of dichloromethane extract was 629.4 ± 1.57 μg/mL. The phenolic content of the extract
calculated with reference to quercetin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid and 4-hydroxy 3-
methoxy benzoic acid equivalent was 45.772, 9.779, 70.304, 74.93 and 57.80 ppm, respectively.
Conclusion: The results confirm that
Conocarpus lancifolius extracts possess some antioxidant,
phytotoxicity and anti-urease potentials due to its phenolic and flavonoid contents.
