Radical scavenging activities of extract and solvent-solvent partition fractions from Dendrobium Sonia “Red Bom” flower

Radical scavenging activities of extract and solvent-solvent partition fractions from the orchid flower, Dendrobium Sonia “Red Bom” were evaluated. Flower of Dendrobium Sonia “Red Bom” was extracted with acidified methanol. The residue was redissolved in water which was then subjected to solvent-solvent partition with organic solvents. Crude extract (CEDS) and three different fractions namely hexane layer (HXL), ethyl acetate layer (EAL) and water layer (WL) were evaluated for the total phenolic and anthocyanin contents and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be the highest in WL. The direct relationship between the total anthocyanins content with the radical scavenging activity indicates that anthocyanins are the main contributors for the observed radical scavenging activities for CEDS and WL.