PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND ANTIOXIDANT EVALUATION OF ARCANGELISIA FLAVA STEM EXTRACT

Arcangelisia flava (locally known in Ifugao as “hopal”) is a medicinal vine belonging to the Menispermaceae family and is traditionally used in the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia for the management of liver disorders and inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to conduct phytochemical profiling and evaluate the antioxidant activity of A. flava stem extract using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical profiling was carried out primarily using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), supported by qualitative test tube reactions. The analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, coumarins, anthraquinones, anthrones, fatty acids, triterpenes, sterols, steroids, essential oils, and carbohydrates (excluding trioses and tetroses), while amino acids were not detected. Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring the reduction in absorbance at 517 nm following reaction with DPPH, and the stem extract demonstrated strong radical scavenging activity with 81.00% inhibition. These findings contribute additional phytochemical and antioxidant data on A. flava stem and support its potential as a source of bioactive compounds. However, the study is limited to qualitative chromatographic profiling and a single antioxidant assay, without quantitative analysis, compound isolation, or further biological validation. Future research employing advanced analytical techniques and comparative evaluation of other plant parts is recommended.