EFFECT OF SOLVENT POLARITY ON THE PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND BIOACTIVITY OF Clerodendrum fragrans Vent. EXTRACTS COLLECTED FROM HUE CITY, VIET NAM

Clerodendrum fragrans Vent. (C. fragrans), is a valuable medicinal plant found in Vietnam. This study aims to investigate the chemical composition and biological activities of the aerial parts (stem and leaves) of C. fragrans. The chemical composition was determined using four different solvents: methanol, water, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. The study also examined biological activities, including antioxidant properties and cytotoxicity. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze compounds with varying polarities in the extracts. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH method, while cytotoxic activity was measured by analyzing the optical density between total protein and stained Sulforhodamine B. Qualitative analysis of the extracts identified a total of 46 compounds across the four solvent extracts. The methanol, water, and ethyl acetate extracts yielded the highest number of compounds, ranging from 16 to 17 compounds each, whereas the n-hexane extract produced the fewest, with only 6 compounds identified. The DPPH scavenging activity demonstrated a range of IC50 values from 206.350 to 420.974 µg/mL, with the ethyl acetate extract showing the highest activity at 206.350 µg/mL. In terms of cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells, IC50 values ranged from 57.89 to 137.381 µg/mL, with the ethyl acetate extract again demonstrating the most potent effect, recording an IC50 of 137.381 µg/mL. These findings indicate that the above-ground parts of C. fragrans possess significant antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. Therefore, further research is warranted to explore its potential pharmacological applications in human health.