ABSTRACT
A petroleum ether extract of Mayodendron
igneum Kurz, (Family Bignoniaceae) yielded five
compounds identified as sitosterol, erythrodiol,
oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and 5', 6' norigeumone.
Antioxidant activity of total ethanol extracts of the
plant was equal to 77.02% of the antioxidant activity
of ascorbic acid (100%) as measured by electron spin
resonance (ESR) and using DPPH as the stable free
radical. The antioxidant activity of successive fractions
of M. igneum leaves were tested with the
strongest inhibition of DPPH stable free radicals
exhibited by the successive ethanol fraction (equal to
100% of free radical scavenging activity relative to
ascorbic acid). The ethyl acetate fraction had 64.96%
of the antioxidant activity of ascorbic acid, and the
petroleum ether and chloroform fractions had 12.46%
and 0%, respectively, of the antioxidant activity of
ascorbic acid. An examination of isolated oleanolic
acid demonstrated moderate cytotoxic activity against
four tested cancer cell lines (liver, cervix, breast, and