Antioxidant, Iron-chelating and Anti-glucosidase Activities of Typha domingensis Pers (Typhaceae)

Tsun-Thai Chai^1,2*, Mirohsha Mohan², Hean-Chooi Ong³ and Fai-Chu Wong^1,2

¹Center for Biodiversity Research, ²Department of Chemical Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 31900 Kampar, ³Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

*For correspondence: Email: chaitt@utar.edu.my; Tel: +605-468 8888 Ext: 4516

Received: 1 February 2013                                                                    Revised accepted: 21 November 2013

Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, January 2014; 13(1): 67-72

 
Purpose: To evaluate the phytochemical profile as well as in vitro antioxidant, iron-chelating, and anti-glucosidase activities of Typha domingensis Pers. (Typhaceae)

Methods: Total polyphenols, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and pro-anthocyanidins in the respective aqueous extracts of male and female flowers, and fruit of T. domingensis were determined by established procedures. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by superoxide anion radical and nitric oxide scavenging assays. Iron chelating activity was assessed using a ferrozine-based assay. Anti-glucosidase activity was determined using 4-nitrophenyl a-D-glucopyranoside as a substrate.

Results: Phenolic contents decreased in the following order: fruit > female flower > male flower. Superoxide scavenging half-maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) of fruit, female flower and male flower extracts was 3.5, 4.8, and 28.2 mg dry matter (DM)/ml, respectively, while nitric oxide scavenging EC₅₀ of fruit, female flower and male flower extracts was 0.16, 0.65, and 0.95 mg DM/ml, respectively. On the other hand, iron chelating EC₅₀ of female flower, male flower and fruit extracts was 4.86, 6.43, and 10.88 mg DM/ml, respectively. Only the fruit and female flower extracts exhibited anti-glucosidase activity, with EC₅₀ of 0.75 and 5.07 mg DM/ml, respectively.

Conclusion: The fruit and female flower extracts of T. domingensis are promising sources of natural antioxidants, iron chelators, and glucosidase inhibitors.

Keywords: Typha domingensis, Antioxidants, Iron-chelation, Anti-glucosidase activity.