PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF VARIOUS EXTRACTS OF HELICHRYSUM PETIOLARE HILLIARD & B.L. BURTT USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Helichrysum petiolare is a herbal plant used in the Eastern Cape of South Africa to treat asthma, chest problems, colds, coughs, infections, diabetes, and high blood pressure. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical components and antioxidant activities of the acetone, ethanol, cold, and boiled aqueous extracts of H. petiolare. The phytochemical contents of the acetone, ethanol, and boiled and cold aqueous whole-plant extracts of Helichrysum petiolare were determined using standard phytochemical reaction methods. ABTS, DPPH, NO, and total antioxidant capacity assays were used to evaluate their antioxidant properties. This study showed the highest total phenolic content (212.963 mg/g) in the boiled aqueous extract, while the ethanol had the highest flavonoid (172.393 mg/g) and proanthocyanidin contents (65.855 mg/g). Alkaloids, flavonols, and saponin were highest in the acetone extract, while the cold aqueous extract had the lowest phytochemical content. Among the extracts, the boiled aqueous extract had the highest DPPH. + (IC₅₀ 0.02 mg/mL) and ABTS. + (IC₅₀ 0.07) inhibition capacities, while the ethanol extract exhibited the highest NO radical Inhibition (IC₅₀ 0.41 mg/mL) and total antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ 0.19 mg/mL). These findings justify the use of H. petiolare in traditional medicine and further recommend the ethanol and boiled aqueous extracts of the plant as more effective extracts for medicinal treatment.