Abstract:
Dendrophthoe pentandra Miq., is a hemiparasitic plant widely found across Asia. Although it possesses the ability to perform photosynthesis, the plant also penetrates the host's vascular system to absorb nutrients and water, often resulting in the gradual decline and eventual death of the host tree. In traditional medicine, every part of D. pentandra has been employed to treat a variety of conditions, including hypertension, wound healing, blood enrichment, and urinary disorders, and is considered non-toxic to the human liver and kidneys. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of D. pentandra leaf extracts obtained using four different solvents as hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, and ethanol via the maceration technique. Among these, ethanol yielded the highest extractive content (9.5807 ± 0.4632%), while hexane provided the lowest (1.4905 ± 0.098%), with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Quantitative analysis revealed that the ethanol extract also contained the highest total phenolic content (1820.88 ± 22.08 mg GAE/g) and the highest total flavonoid content (7726.70 ± 143.63 mg QE/g), both significantly greater than those from other solvents (p < 0.05). In contrast, the hexane extract exhibited the lowest levels of these compounds. Assessment of antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay demonstrated that the ethanol extract exhibited the strongest radical scavenging activity, with the lowest IC50 value (87.15 ± 2.47 µg/mL), whereas the hexane extract showed the weakest activity (IC50 = 1848.47 ± 48.03 µg/mL), also with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Further analysis using LC Q-TOF identified a variety of bioactive compound groups, including saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolics. Notably, several derivatives of quercetin and myricetin were detected, such as Quercetin 7-(6''-galloylglucoside), Quercetin 3-(2-caffeoylglucuronoside), Quercetin 3,7-diglucuronide, and Myricetin 3-(2'',3''-digalloylrhamnoside), all of which are known for their potent antioxidant properties. These findings highlight the potential of ethanol extract of D. pentandra leaves as a rich source of natural antioxidants, offering promising applications in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical formulations.