Screening of antioxidant activity of betel leave (Piper betle) extract

Piper betle leaves compounds were successfully isolated and screened for their antioxidant activity, phenolic content and flavonoid content. Hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and distilled water were used to extract the powdered Piper betle leaves using maceration technique. Thin layer chromatography and column chromatography were used to screen and isolate the compounds of the crude extracts and the fractions by using different types of solvent system. Piper betle was evaluated for the antioxidant activity by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydarzyl (DPPH) assay, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. Methanol extract was selected as the best crude extract and hexane and ethyl acetate (3:1) was the best solvent system to separate methanol extract. Hexane and acetone (5:1) was the best solvent system to
separate the fraction of first column chromatography. Ethanol and methanol (7:3) was identified as the best solvent to isolate fraction of second column chromatography. The High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis confirmed the selected fraction has single compound. Both the best crude extract and best fraction showed positive antioxidant activity. The result of total phenolic content and total flavonoid content showed that the best fraction contained phenolic compounds and flavonoid.