Antioxidant activity of different extracts of Vitex agnus-castus (L.) and phytochemical profile

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to evaluate antioxidant activity of Vitex agnus-castus aerial parts and also to investigate the main phytoconstituents in the plant extracts. Nhexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol 80% extract were tested for free radical scavenging activity on model reaction with stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). The results showed that ethyl acetate was the most active one as antioxidant agent and phytochemical analysis of the ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of triterpenes, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and carbohydrates. The results suggest new chemical classes of natural antioxidant substances that could serve as selective agents for infectious diseases.