Phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ) root extracts

Abstract

Degenerative diseases remain a major global health concern, with oxidative stress caused by free radicals contributing significantly to their development. This study evaluated the antioxidant activity of ethanol extract and fractions of water hyacinth roots ( Eichhornia crassipes ) and characterized their active compounds. Water hyacinth roots were extracted by ethanol maceration and fractionated using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods, while phytochemical screening was conducted by thin-layer chromatography and compound characterization by GC-MS. The ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity among all samples, with IC 50 values of 484.89 ± 1.50 µg/mL (DPPH), 634.99 ± 0.84 µg/mL (ABTS), and 538.00 ± 5.37 µg/mL (FRAP). Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, and phenolic compounds. GC-MS analysis identified five major compounds, namely hexadecanoic acid (49.34%), 9-hexadecenoic acid (37.54%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (6.71%), octadecanoic acid (4.88%), and tetradecanoic acid (1.53%). These findings indicate that the ethyl acetate fraction of water hyacinth roots possesses the highest antioxidant potential and may serve as a promising natural antioxidant source.