title: Chemical constituents and in vitro antioxidant activity of Phyllanthus wightianus.
abstract: The whole plant of Phyllanthus wightianus (PW) was investigated for the antioxidant effects of three successive extracts: hexane (PWHE), chloroform (PWCE) and methanol (PWME), using standard in vitro models. The PWME exhibited a strong scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and nitric oxide radical inhibition activity, due to possessing the highest content of tannins. The free radical scavenging effect of PWME was comparable with that of reference antioxidants. The extracts were subjected to isolation of their compounds: isomeric sterol mixture (1) [stigmasterol (1a), compesterol (1b) and β-sitosterol (1c)], fredilin (2), lupeol (3), gallic acid (4), bergenin (5), geraniin (6), corilagin (7) and ellagic acid (8) were established through the use of column chromatographic methods and spectral data. The percentage of tannins was also determined and estimated using the HPLC method. The data suggest that tannins are the active antioxidant compounds of P. wightianus. This study provides proof for the ethnomedical claims and reported biological activities of this plant. The plant therefore has very good therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biodiversity, Drug Discovery and Development, Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Sciences, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Alwarkurichi 627412, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Olaganathan Siva
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Priya
authors.forename: Madepalli Byrappa Gowdu
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.forename: Kediki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balakrishna
authors.forename: Muthappan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venkatesan
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D029803:Phyllanthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts