Antioxidant activity and LC-MS/MS analysis of phytochemicals in Balanites aegyptiaca L. leaves aqueous extract

Abstract

The leaves of Balanites aegyptiaca L. plant are use in the form of juice in traditional folk medicines, especially in Africa and Southern Asia, in the form of juice to treat diarrhea, curing anthrax, dysentery, cuts and clean malignant wounds; other parts of the plant have also shown to have their own medicinal activities. The purpose of this analysis study was to the phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Balanites aegyptiaca L. leaves using qualitative analysis methods and LC-MS/MS analyses. Using DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay, the aqueous extract was found to have significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 value 46.60±0.02 μg/mL. A qualitative analysis shows that the Balanites aegyptiaca L. plant leaves contains carbohydrate, protein, amino acids, glycoside, tannins, saponin, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Bioactive phytochemicals in the extracts were detected by LC-MS/MS analysis and 8 phytochemicals responsible for antioxidant activity were reported. The results obtained in this analysis study indicate that the aqueous extract of Balanites aegyptiaca L. leaves has promising contains of bioactive antioxidant properties for the scavenging of free radicals. For this reason, the plant leaves should contain bioactive components with antioxidant activity, and it is beneficial in the treatment of diseases related to free radicals and in reducing the problems associated with suppressed oxidative stress related complications.