Comparative Study of Several Extraction Solvents on Phenolic Profile, Toxicity and Antioxidants Potential of Ephedra alata Leaves

Ephedra alata is one of the natural plants grow in AL-Salman Desert in AL-Muthana Governorate, Iraq and limited used in folk medicine. The most significance phytochemical constituents in plants are compounds considered antioxidants such as polyphenols. In general, the extraction conditions involving the technique employed and solvent type, greatly affect the anti-oxidant contents of herbal plants. The study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of some solvents like distilled water and other organic solvents such as ethanol, methanol, and acetone as the extraction solvents on efficiency, extraction yield, and antioxidant activity as well as determine the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoids, and total tannins content of Ephedra alata leaves extracts. Overall the four different extracts obtained, the ethanol solvent exhibited the highest yield extraction, whereas methanol extract showed both higher antioxidant activity and total phenol content (TPC). Acetone showed lower antioxidant capacity and TPC compared with the three extracts. The obtained results are demonstrated that an increased phenolic content in Ephedra alata leaves extracts contributes to increase their antioxidant efficiency. Based on toxicity assessments, LD50 was measured (1150 mg/kg BW), this suggests the plant’s safety.