Antioxidant Properties of n-Hexane and Acetone Leaf Extracts of Delonix regia (?? ???? )

Background: Delonix regia, commonly known as Gulmohar??????, is a tropical flowering tree from the pea family, widely found in tropical regions. In traditional folk medicine, its leaves have been employed to cure numerous diseases. In contemporary times, there is an emergent trend among individuals to prioritize their health, often looking for new products derived from nature whereas avoiding synthetic alternatives. Plants are primary source of bioactive compounds, including natural antioxidants, which are essential in drug development and the formulation of healthcare products. Objective: To assess the antioxidant property of leaf extract of D. regia in acetone and n-Hexane using in-vitro method. Method: The experimental study was carried out at University of Karachi and Pharmacology Department of Baqai Medical University, using in-vitro methods for a period of six months from November 2023 to May 2024.The antioxidant property of leaf extracts of D. regia in polar and non-polar solvent i.e. acetone and hexane respectively, was evaluated by using DPPH radical scavenging assay. Gallic acid serves as the reference compound. Statistical analysis was based on Mean ± SEM because data was obtained in technical triplicates. The IC50 (Inhibitory concentration 50) was calculated from dose response curve. Results: Acetone extract of D. regia leaves exhibited 89.9% inhibition at 0.5 mg/mL concentration and had IC50 of 133.5 ?g/mL, indicating significant antioxidant property. However, no activity was detected in the hexane extract of D. regia leaves. At the concentration of 0.5 mg/mL, its antioxidant potential is unclear. Comparatively, Gallic acid exhibited strong antioxidant activity with 95.3% inhibition at 0.5 mg/mL. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study showed that leaf extracts of D. regia in polar solvent (acetone) exhibited significant antioxidant potential. This emphasizes that leaves extract of D. regia is a promising source of antioxidants.