Antioxidant activity of Eucalyptus globulus Labill root extracts

Abstract

E. globulus is used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. This study investigated the antioxidant activity of ethanol (EtE), ethylacetate (EaE) and aqueous (AqE) root extracts of E. globulus by measuring its DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging, H2O2 scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating activities. EtE showed the highest DPPH (IC50 = 15.80µg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 41.87µg/mL) and reducing power (IC50 = 8.41µg/mL). AqE demonstrated the best H2O2 activity (IC50 = 18.10µg/mL), while EaE exhibited the best metal chelating ability (IC50 = 13.52µg/mL). Total phenolics and flavonoids were highest in EtE. These results indicate that E. globulus roots can be used as an alternative source of natural antioxidants with the potential to reduce oxidative stress related diseases.