The Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Agents from the bark of Philippine Alstonia scholaris(L.) R. Br.(Apocynaceae)

Abstract

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br., locally known as “Dita”, is a vital medicinal plant species under family Apocynaceae. The plant has been used for its medicinal properties for fevers, chronic diarrhea and dysentery. This study explored the antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of the extracts of A. scholaris bark. Volatile components of the bark of Philippine A. scholaris(AS) were isolated by solvent extraction techniques and analyzed by GC/MS and LC/MS-MS. Two solvent systems were used; a 50:50 solution of MeOH/DMSO and DCM. GC-EI-MS analyses of DCM extracts showed the presence of 2(4H)-benzofuranone,5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,4,7a-trimethyl-,(R)- (peak area: 2.827%) and in MeOH:DMSO extracts β-amyrin (peak area: 37.10%), olean-12-en-3-yl acetate (peak area: 21.21%), lupenyl acetate (peak area: 16.61%) and lupeol (peak area: 13.93%). Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy exhibited that A. scholaris had the following elemental percentages (