Antioxidant Activity of Fractions from Garcinia hombroniana Pierre Leaves Extracts

Introduction: Radicals were compounds that generated in normal metabolism and create cell damage. A significant increase of free radical and decreased radical elimination can lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of many diseases. Enhanced supply of antioxidants will help prevent the morbidity of many diseases. Garcinia hombroniana Pierre has potency as an antioxidant, but study to evaluate the active fractions as an antioxidant has not been done. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate antioxidant activity of fractions separated from ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH) extract of Garcinia hombroniana leaves and to obtain active fractions to facilitate finding a pure antioxidant compound. Methods: The extract was fractionated using column chromatography, while antioxidant activity assay was conducted in vitro using spectrophotometric methods with DPPH and FRAP method. Results: EtOAc extract of G. hombroniana leaves yielded EA-8 with radical scavenging percentage 32.67% (10 ppm, with DPPH method) and EA-11 with antioxidant activity percentage 25.73% (10 ppm, with FRAP method) as the most active fraction from EtOAc extract, while MeOH extract yielded M-3 with radical scavenging percentage 37.42% (10 ppm, with DPPH method) and 26.70% (10 ppm, with FRAP method) as the most active fraction from MeOH extract Conclusion: Most active fractions has good antioxidant activity, worthy for further study to isolate antioxidant compound which is responsible for antioxidant activity. However, the percentage of radical scavenging or antioxidant activity of all active fractions were smaller than quercetin as a positive control.