title: Phytochemical and in vitro antioxidant evaluation of different fractions of Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris (Vill.) Brenan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the phytochemical and in vitro antioxidant ability of methanolic extract and different fractions of Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris (A. graecizans subsp. silvestris).
  
  
  METHODS
  Methanolic extract of A. graecizans subsp. silvestris was obtained by cold maceration and then methanolic extract was subjected to fractionation and different fractions i.e. n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions were obtained. Methanolic extract and all other fractions were subjected to phytochemical investigation by performing different phytochemical group tests like alkaloid, tannins, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, etc. In vitro antioxidant activity of A. graecizans subsp. silvestris was evaluated by using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), ferric thiocyanate assay, total antioxidant activity by phosphomolybdenum, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total phenolic content and lipid peroxidation methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximum antioxidant activity was shown by n-hexane fraction of the extract by carrying out DPPH (86.44±0.23), ethyl acetate fraction by total antioxidant (0.95±0.06) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (299.45±1.48) methods, while by employing total phenolic contents and inhibition of lipid per oxidation assays, methanolic extract (92.88±4.16) and n-hexane fraction (69.47±0.68) exhibited maximal activity. Ethyl acetate fraction showed the least IC50 values by DPPH assay, hence a more pronounced potential for antioxidant activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that A. graecizans subsp. silvestris has antioxidant potential and can be utilized as a natural source of antioxidant.
authors.affiliation: University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore-54000, Pakistan; Reserch Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: Saiqa_ishtiaq@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Saiqa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishtiaq
authors.affiliation: Reserch Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mansoor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hanif
authors.affiliation: Lahore College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18km Raiwind Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shehla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.lastname: Mehjabeen
authors.affiliation: University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore-54000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sairah Hafeez
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kamran
keywords: Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris; DPPH; FRAP; Inhibition of lipid peroxidation; Natural antioxidant