Second metabolites and antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer activities of Helicteres hirsuta root extract

Helicteres hirsuta Lour., particularly its stems and leaves have been used in Vietnamese traditional medicine to cure furuncles, dysentery, measles and flu. In this study, we examined biological activities of 5 fractions from methanol extract of H. hirsuta roots. The results showed that ethyl acetate fraction has the highest content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds (220.9 ± 15.67 mg GAE, gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight and 23.03 ± 0.97 mg QE, quercetin equivalents/g dry weight, respectively).