Phytochemical screening and antioxidant properties of phyllanthus emblica from Mauritius

Abstract

The phytochemical screening showed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, non-flavonoid, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and phytosterols in the different extracts (diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, butanol, and aqueous extracts) of dried fruits of Phyllanthus emblica (Amla). Low-molecular-weight aliphatic acids, phenolic acids, methyl/ethyl gallate, phytosterols, and tannins were identified in the fruits using UPLC-MS/MS. The scavenging activity of Amla was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. The ethyl acetate extract showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents, which was also found to have the highest antioxidant potential with SC50, 1.33 ± 0.77 and 4.13 ± 0.99 μg/mL for the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. The high phenolic, flavonoid, and the antioxidant activity of the extracts indicated that the local Amla could be exploited as an antioxidant supplement.