Extraction Phytochemical Screening, Estimation of Flavonoid Content and Antioxidant Potential of Centaurea Behen L.

Abstract

The present study investigated the phytochemical composition, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of various root extracts of Centaurea behen L., using solvents of varying polarity. Extractive values indicated that polar solvents, particularly water, yielded the highest recovery of bioactive compounds, followed by methanol, while non-polar solvents such as petroleum ether and chloroform produced significantly lower yields. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that the chloroform extract contained only carbohydrates, whereas the ethyl acetate extract was rich in flavonoids, diterpenes, and carbohydrates. Methanolic and aqueous extracts showed the presence of flavonoids, diterpenes, proteins, and carbohydrates, with saponins detected exclusively in the aqueous extract, highlighting water’s efficiency in extracting highly polar constituents. Quantitative analysis of total flavonoid content showed that the ethyl acetate extract possessed the highest concentration, followed by aqueous and methanolic extracts, suggesting that intermediate polarity favors certain flavonoid subtypes. Antioxidant activity, assessed via DPPH and nitric oxide scavenging assays, demonstrated a dose-dependent radical scavenging potential in the ethyl acetate extract, though its activity was lower than that of ascorbic acid. The observed antioxidant effects are likely due to flavonoids and other phenolic-like compounds. The findings validate the traditional medicinal use of Centaurea behen roots and support further isolation and characterization of its bioactive constituents for potential incorporation into herbal formulations targeting oxidative stress.