Phytochemical Profiling And In Vitro Antioxidant Evaluation Of The Ethanolic Leaf Extract Of Corchorus Tricolaris (Trilocularis L.)

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress is a central driver of hepatocellular injury, and medicinal plants rich in phenolic and flavonoid constituents are increasingly explored as sources of natural antioxidants. Corchorus tricolaris (syn. Corchorus trilocularis L., family Malvaceae), a traditionally used but scientifically underexplored member of the genus Corchorus, was investigated for its phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant potential. Methods: Shade-dried leaves were extracted by Soxhlet apparatus using 95% ethanol. The extract was subjected to preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening, quantitative estimation of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), chromatographic fingerprinting by HPTLC and HPLC, and in vitro antioxidant evaluation using DPPH, ABTS, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and lipid peroxidation inhibition (TBARS) assays. Results: The extract yielded 12% w/w on a dry-weight basis and tested positive for alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, and glycosides. TPC and TFC were 765 µg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mg and 301 µg quercetin equivalent (QE)/mg of extract, respectively. HPTLC fingerprinting resolved five major bands (Rf 0.21–0.76) corresponding to phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and glycosides, while HPLC analysis confirmed quercetin as a major marker constituent (retention time ≈ 6.7 min). The extract exhibited concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values of 52 µg/mL (DPPH), 48 µg/mL (ABTS), 60 µg/mL (H2O2), 58 µg/mL (nitric oxide), and 62 µg/mL (lipid peroxidation/TBARS). Conclusion: The ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus tricolaris is a rich source of phenolic and flavonoid phytoconstituents and demonstrates substantial in vitro antioxidant activity across multiple complementary assay systems. These findings provide a phytochemical and antioxidant basis that supports further evaluation of the extract's hepatoprotective potential in experimental models.