ABSTRACT:
Ipomoea fistulosa is an evergreen shrub with heart shaped leaves which is used for the treatment of various diseases in traditional medication. In this study, aqueous extract of I. fistulosa leaves was evaluated for phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity and cytotoxic activity by various in vitro methods. Phytochemical screening of the I. fistulosa leaves was carried out by using the standard protocols. Antioxidant potential of the aqueous extract was estimated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, metal chelating activity, total antioxidant activity and reducing power activity. Estimation of total phenolic content and flavonoid content of the aqueous extract of the plant was determined by using Folin- Ciocalteau reagent method and Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) method respectively. Cytotoxic activity of the plant extract was measured by Brine shrimp lethality assay. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extract of leaves of I. fistulosa exhibited the presence of tannins, phenolic compounds, saponins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, phytosterols, proteins and amino acids as major phytochemical groups. The aqueous extract of leaves of I. fistulosa exhibited high antioxidant activity in 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (IC50= 59.94 µg/ml), metal chelating activity (IC50= 422.45 µg/ml), total antioxidant activity and reducing power activity. Extract also exhibited the presence of higher amount of phenolic (81.01 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid (50.99 mg QE/g extract) compounds, which reflects the antioxidant potential of this plant. Extract exhibited very low cytotoxicity in brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality assay. These results revealed that I. fistulosa is highly antioxidant and poor cytotoxic in nature and can be used as a potential source for the antioxidant compounds.