Antioxidant Potential of Ethanol Extracts Leaf and Stem of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. with DPPH, ABTS, and Frap Methods

Free radicals are called atoms or molecules with no electron pairs and intermediate results of organic reactions with a homolysis process resulting from a covalent combination. Antioxidants are used to protect cells from damage due to the presence of free radical molecules. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn is a type of aquatic plant that comes from India and is part of the Nelumbo genus. It occurs every year. Using the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods, research was conducted to determine the antioxidant activity of an ethanol extract in the leaf and stem of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Experimental research included sample collection, plant identification, making simplicia, making ethanol extract of Nelumbo nucifera leaf and stem, phytochemical screening, and testing anti-free radical activity using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Phytochemical screening of Nelumbo nucifera leaf contained secondary metabolite compounds of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, and steroids/triterpenoids; Nelumbo nucifera stems contained flavonoids, terpenoids, and saponins. The results of research related to antioxidant activity in the DPPH method of the IC50 value of the ethanol extract from the leaf of Nelumbo nucifera was determined to be 16.7473µg/ml, whereas the IC50 value of the ethanol extract from the stem of Nelumbo nucifera was found to be 25.2170µg/ml, The ABTS method determined that the IC50 value of the ethanol extract from Nelumbo nucifera leaf was 22.8995 µg/ml and ethanol extract of Nelumbo nucifera stem (15.297 µg/ml); in the FRAP method, the IC50 value of ethanol extract of Nelumbo nucifera stem (5.0972µg/ml) and ethanol extract of Nelumbo nucifera stem (5.7069µg/ml). According to the ABTS method, The ethanol extract of Nelumbo nucifera leaf has considerable antioxidant activity, however the stem extract does not. The DPPH and FRAP techniques show high antioxidant activity in Nelumbo nucifera leaf and stem ethanol extract.