Evaluation of total phenolic, flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of leaf extracts from Rhus vulgaris

Rhus vulgaris, a plant known for its rich composition of polyphenols and flavonoids, serves as a potent agent against oxidative stress and various diseases, including cancer. The aim of this study involved extraction using the solvents n-hexane, acetone, and 80% aqueous methanol, phytochemical screening, and antibacterial testing. The total phenolic and flavonoid content was quantified using Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride spectrophotometric methods. The antioxidant activity was evaluated via the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The study found that the extracts predominantly contain alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, steroids, carbohydrates, and anthraquinones. Compared to the standard, the methanol extracts showed better inhibitory zones. Results revealed that total polyphenols ranged from 5.82 ± 0.6 to 83.23 ± 0.6 mgGAE/100 g, and the flavonoid content varied between 2.21 ± 0.34 to 23.47 ± 0.87 mg CE/100 g. R. vulgaris leaf extracts had excellent antioxidant activity, ranging from 0.756 ± 0.8 to 131.56 ± 0.6 mgAAE/g sample. The R. vulgaris 80% methanolic extract displayed the highest phenolic and flavonoid concentrations as well as a powerful antioxidant capacity. Based on these findings, it is possible that R. vulgaris could be turned into a natural antibiotic that works well for treating a variety of illnesses, both incurable and curable.