Investigating the Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extract of Zapoteca portoricensis Root Using the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Radical Scavenging Method

Oxidative damage can be managed using various synthetic medications; however, these are often linked to undesirable side effects. A safer alternative to these challenges involves the consumption of natural antioxidants found in dietary supplements and traditional remedies. In vitro antioxidant assay of Zapoteca portoricensis root extract demonstrated antioxidant activity was identified. The inhibition rate in the antioxidant model (DPPH) indicated that the plant extract neutralized free radicals in a concentration-dependent fashion within the tested range. The scavenging activity percentage of the Zapoteca portoricensis root extract for DPPH showed the highest 83.51% DPPH inhibition at 1.25 mg/mol concentrations. From the above result, the % DPPH inhibition of this plant extract increases as the concentration of the extract increased. This demonstrates that the root extract of Zapoteca portoricensis possesses bioactive components capable of donating hydrogen atoms to free radicals, thereby neutralizing the unpaired electrons responsible for their reactivity. Based on the findings of the antioxidant evaluation using the DPPH model, it can be inferred that the extract likely contains significant amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties and effective free radical scavenging capabilities.