Radical scavenging activity and preliminary phytochemical screening on aerial part extracts of Cineraria abyssinica sch. bip. EXA

Though the aqueous decoction of the aerial part of Cineraria abyssinica Sch. Bip. exA. Rich (Asteraceae) has been used for the treatment of various diseases associated with oxidative stress in Ethiopia, there appear to have been no report on the phytochemistry and antioxidant activity of the aerial part of this plant. The aims of this study were, therefore, to carry out radical scavenging activity and preliminary phytochemical screening on the aerial part of the plant. The aqueous crude extract, ethyl acetate, butanol and dichloromethane fractions of the aerial part of C. abyssinica were studied for their 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The crude extract and fractions showed promising DPPH activity with IC50 ranging from 3.29 μg/ml to 9.18 μg/ml. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the most potent DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 3.29 μg/ml) better than the standard, ascorbic acid (IC50 = 5.21 μg/ml). Preliminary phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of the aerial part of the plant revealed the presence of alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, tannins and phytosterols. Hence, the present study revealed the radical scavenging activity of phytochemicals present in the aerial part of C. abyssinica that scientifically support the traditional claim and its potential as invaluable source of natural antioxidant.