DOI: 10.36347/sajp.2020.v09i03.001

Pages: 99-107

Background: In this study, the phenolic constituents and antioxidant potential of Gossypium hirsutum were evaluated. Methods: Dried and powdered leaves were subjected to extraction in ethanol by static maceration to obtain the ethanol extract (EEGH). From EEGH, hexane (HFGH), dichlromethane (DFGH), ethyl acetate (EAFGH) and butanol (BFGH) fractions were obtained by liquid/liquid partition. Total phenolic and flavonoids were quantified by spectrophotometric method using gallic acid and rutin as reference compounds, respectively. The antioxidant activity was determined by free radical scavenging of DPPH, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), co-oxidation of β-carotene/linoleic acid and thiobarbituric acid assays. Results: Total phenols ranged from 1.86 to 26.49 g/100g, while the flavonoid variation was 0.67 to 7.17 g/100g. The IC50 values ranged from 24.99 ± 0.16 to 215.48 ± 0.11 µg/mL against the DPPH● radical and FRAP produced IC50 between 25.61 ± 0.43 and 166.20 ± 1.01 µg/mL. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation (%I) by beta-carotene/linoleic acid co-oxidation was between 42.97 and 82.18%. The IC50 values ranged from 134.10 ± 8.20 to 388.20 ± 0.83 µg/mL when the inhibition of lipid peroxidation was investigated by thiobarbituric acid. Conclusion: The results indicate that G. hirsutum leaves are a promising source of compounds with antioxidant action that may justify their therapeutic properties.