PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PILEA MELASTOMOIDES, A NATIVE PLANT OF SABAH (LONDOU OPIAU)

Abstract

Pilea melastomoides is a plant reported for the first time to have medicinal properties in Ranau, Sabah, East Malaysia. Traditionally, this plant has been used to treat pregnancy-related conditions, gastritis, infertility, skin disorders, and injuries, although no scientific evidence currently supports these claims. The objective of this study is to identify the phytochemical constituents of P. melastomoides and evaluate its antioxidant activity. Phytochemical constituents were identified using qualitative analysis (tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and cardiac glycosides) as well as quantitative analysis of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). Antioxidant activity was assessed using an in vitro DPPH assay. P. melastomoides’s stems aqueous extract content tannins, flavonoids and terpenoids. The TPC and TFC values be found of 11.21 ± 0.2 mg GAE/g and 1.48 ±  0.07 mg CAE/g, respectively. The IC₅₀ value be found of 3.26 mg/mL against DPPH radicals. This study serves as first report on P. melastomoides on phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity from a native plant from Sabah, East Malaysia.