Photoprotective, antioxidant screening and new ester from dry root extracts of Potentilla atrosanguinea (Himalayan cinquefoil) ☆

Abstract In vitro photoprotective and antioxidant activities of dried aqueous-methanolic (H 2 O/MeOH) crude extract and ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n -butanol ( n -BuOH) as well as aqueous (H 2 O) fractions of roots of western Himalayan plant Potentilla atrosanguinea (Himalayan cinquefoil) were evaluated. The ability of protection against UVB region followed the trend EtOAc >  n -BuOH > H 2 O/MeOH > H 2 O. Total phenol content of crude H 2 O/MeOH extract was found to be 429.808 mg GAE/g. The H 2 O/MeOH crude extract showed highest antioxidant of DPPH radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging and cupric ion reducing of 90.04, 78.86 and 88.64% respectively at 200 μg/mL. One new compound methyl pentatetraconta-30,32,34,36,38,40,42-heptaenoate ( PA-1 ) along with a known pentadecylbutyrate ( PA-2 ) was isolated by column chromatography. Results indicated the importance of root extracts as photoprotective agents in sunscreen preparation in the pharmaceutical industry and considered as a natural source of antioxidants.