Physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of PVP/CA membranes nanofiber loaded Arcangelisia flava L. Merr. stem extract using electrospinning technique

Arcangelisia flava L. Merr. is often used in traditional medicine because of its antioxidant content and its potential as a herbal medicine for various diseases, including infections and inflammation. However, studies on the use of Arcangelisia flava L. Merr. extract in nanofiber membranes to increase active compounds are still rare. This study investigated the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of polyvinylpyrrolidone/cellulose acetate (PVP/CA) nanofiber membranes loaded with Arcangelisia flava L. Merr. stem extract using the electrospinning technique. The morphology, mechanical properties, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), phytochemical analysis, total phenol and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity of the nanofibers were evaluated. The incorporation of the extract into the PVP/CA nanofibers increased the fiber diameter to 564.99 ± 109.27 nm and decreased the mechanical properties, with a Young's modulus of 18.65 ± 1.02 MPa, compared to pure PVP/CA nanofibers. XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds from the extract in the nanofibers. Phytochemical screening detected alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids in both the extract and nanofibers. The nanofibers exhibited significantly higher total phenol and flavonoid contents, reaching 36.49 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g and 142.54 ± 0.08 mg QE/g, respectively, compared to the extract alone. The antioxidant activity, assessed by DPPH radical scavenging assay, showed that the nanofibers had a lower IC 50 value of 49.12 ± 1.42 μg/mL, indicating enhanced antioxidant potential compared to the extract with an IC 50 value of 63.01 ± 1.53 μg/mL. The nanofiber technology substantially improved the antioxidant efficacy of the Arcangelisia flava L. Merr. stem extract by increasing the specific surface area and stability of the bioactive compounds. These findings suggest that PVP/CA nanofiber membranes loaded with Arcangelisia flava L. Merr. stem extract have promising potential for various biomedical applications requiring enhanced antioxidant properties.