Abstract:
Artemisia abyssinica Sch. Bip. ex A. Rich (Family- Asteraceae;
Chikugn-Amharic) has a popular traditional medicine for the treatment
of various diseases especially among the South-Western people of
Ethiopia. The present study was undertaken to find the phytochemical
screening and antioxidant potential of A.abyssinica leaves and stem by
aqueous, methanol and hexane solvents. Preliminary phytochemical
investigation was carried out on three extracts by prescribed standard
methods. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloids,
saponins, flavonoids and tannins. The fraction inhibition of lipid
peroxide at the first stage of oxidation illustrated antioxidant activity of
A.abyssinica leaves and stem as 90% and 88% compared to those of
gallic acid (97%) and BHT (84%) respectively. The results of the
present study revealed that A.abyssinica leaves and stem extracts have a significant
antioxidant capacity and could be expressed as source of antioxidant components.
