POLYPHENOLIC CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF LEAVES OF URTICA SIMENSIS GROWN IN ETHIOPIA

This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity and polyphenolic content of a wild vegetable, Urtica simensi, grown in Ethiopia. Total phenolics, tannin and flavonoid content of leaves extract were determined by the Folin Ciocalteu, Folin Ciocalteu/protein precipitation and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. The antioxidant activity was tested by the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging method. Results of the determination revealed that total phenols ranged from 15.75 to 22.67 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of dried leaves. Total tannin content ranged between 0.496 to 1.54 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of dried leaves. Similarly, total flavonoids concentration as catechin equivalent varied between 6.89 to 9.03 mg catechin equivalent/g of dried leaves. Leaves of U. simensis were found to have a substantial antioxidant activity ranging between 2.28-2.42 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g of dried leaves. This study reveals that U. simensis leaves accumulated a substantial amount of polyphenols, particularly flavonoids, and pose a substantial antioxidant activity.