Abstract:
The objective of this research was to study antioxidant activity and total phenolics
extracted from the following selected ferns; Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Sm. (Oak-Leaf
fern), Diplazium esculentum (Paco fern) and Marsilea crenata Presl (Clover fern) using
ethanol, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate with shaker and soxhlet. The antioxidant
activities of the extracts were determined using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assay and total
phenolic content was expressed as gallic acid equivalent (GAE) using Folin-Ciocalteu
Phenol reagent. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of ferns extracted with
soxhlet were higher than those extracted with the shaker. The extract of the ethyl acetate
from Clover fern showed the highest antioxidant activity using the DPPH, ABTS and
FRAP of 107.77, 153.75 mg TEAC/g dried sample, and 1.39 umol Fe+2/g dried sample,
respectively. The ethyl acetate extract from Paco fern showed the highest total phenolic
content of 17.19 mg GAE/g dried sample.