Variation in Phytochemical Constituents and Antioxidant Potential of Extracts Derived from Leaves of Sansevieria trifasciata var. Laurentii and Sansevieria trifasciata var. Zeylanica (Asparagaceae)

Sansevieria is an ornamental plant that has many hybrids and varieties make them difficult to distinguish. The most common varietiesused for medicinal purposes are Sansevieria trifasciatam which is known for cure of many diseases. However, little attention is given tothis plant in proving it medicinal worth and capability as an antioxidant agent. This study was initiated to set up a metabolite classesprofile and the potential enzymatic antioxidant of the variations of these plants. Crude extracts of S. trifasciata var. Laurentii and S.trifasciata var. Zeylanica were prepared from their leaves, and solvent used has different polarities. Qualitative phytochemical analysiswas carried out using the extracts. Phytochemical screening suggested both of these samples contain carbohydrates in all extracts. It alsoshow that flavonoid was found in hexane and ethyl acetate extracts while did not observed in the methanol extracts for both samples.However, alkaloid, phenol and tannin were positive in all of the methanol extracts except for hexane and ethyl acetate extracts. For thebiological activity, all extracts were selected for the determination of enzymatic antioxidant activity test using catalase (CAT) assay andguaiacol peroxidase (gPOD) assay using UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Based on the results, CAT specific activity was the highest inmethanol extract of S. trifasciata var. Laurentii (3.15 ± 0.50 units/mg protein) compared to S. trifasciata var. Zeylanica (2.20 ± 0.05units/mg protein). For gPOD specific activity, ethyl acetate extract of S. trifasciata var. Laurentii shows the highest activity which is 1.46× 10-2 ± 0.02 units/mg protein compared to the other crude extracts.