Potential antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts of Spider lily (Hymenocallis littoralis)

Hymenocallis littoralis has allelochemical importance such as defensive compounds, insect repellents, attractants, and their role in ecological balance. Antioxidant activities of Hymenocallis littoralis bulb, anther, flower, stem, leaves and root methanolic extracts were evaluated using Ferric Reducing Antioxdiant Power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic and flavonoid assays. Dried parts were ground and extracted using sonication method. The extracts were then tested for their antioxidant activity by FRAP, DPPH, total phenolic and flavonoid assays. The flower and anther methanolic extracts shows ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) at 555.12 ± 1.67 and 568.09 ± 0.42 μmol g Fe. High activity for DPPH free radical molecules was observed in flower (1.29 mg mL), stem (1.33 mg mL), and anther (0.31 mg mL). The phenolic content of Hymenocallis littoralis extracts are in ascending order as per root < leaves < stem < bulb < flower < anther. The flavanoid content of Hymenocallis litoralis plant extracts in ascending order are bulb < root < leaves < flower < stem < anther. Elucidation and isolation of the active compounds from this plant can help to shed more information of the compound of interest. This finding shows that the Hymenocallis littoralis bulb, root and anther extracts possess a good antioxidant activity which can demonstrate a better cytotoxicity activity.