Antioxidant Activity of Ethanol Extract of Stems and Leaves of Euphorbia hirta

Abstract

Euphorbia hirta L. is a medicinal plant traditionally used for various ailments, yet the differential bioactive potential of its specific organs requires elucidation. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities of the ethanol extracts from the stems and leaves of E. hirta. The plant material was extracted via maceration using 96% ethanol. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, while the phytochemical contents were determined spectrophotometrically. The results revealed significant organ-specific variation. The leaf extract exhibited a substantially higher extraction yield (17%) and TPC (226.669 mg GAE/g) compared to the stem (4% yield; 52.270 mg GAE/g). Conversely, the stem extract demonstrated higher TFC (26.049 mg QE/g) than the leaves (20.604 mg QE/g). In antioxidant testing, the leaf extract displayed remarkably superior radical scavenging activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 6.538 µg/ml; ABTS IC₅₀ = 4.832 µg/ml), approaching the potency of the quercetin standard, while the stem extract showed higher ferric reducing power (FRAP value of 533.315 µmol Fe²⁺/g). The impact of this research is significant, as it scientifically validates the traditional preference for E. hirta leaves and identifies them as a highly potent, accessible source of natural antioxidants for managing oxidative stress-related conditions. Furthermore, it highlights the distinct phytochemical profiles of different plant parts, guiding the selective utilization of E. hirta parts for targeted nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.