Ephedra nebrodensis , is a medicinal plant, traditionally in Algeria used for the cure of various ailments such as hepatic disorders. On this basis in present study the phytochemical screening and in vitro antioxidant activity of various fractions (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n -butanol and water) of ethanol extract obtained by maceration from aerial parts of E. nebrodensis were investigated. Different fractions were accessed for their yield percentage, total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total tannins content (TTC) and antioxidant potential (DPPH - 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; ABTS - 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), reducing power assay (FRAP - ferric reducing antioxidant power activity),and bleaching of β-carotene test . Results showed that ethyl acetate fraction (EF) represents the highest amount of total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins with 269.669 ± 0.031 μg gallic acid equivalent/mg of DE, 44.507 ± 0.003 μg quercetin equivalents/mg of DE and 228.487 ± 1.362 μg tannic acid equivalents/mg of DE, respectively. In antioxidant assays, ethyl acetate fractions (EF) showed the strongest DPPH and ABTS antioxidant (IC 50 : 0.009 and 0.004 μg/mL) and FRAP potential (EC 50 : 0.005 ± 0.000 μg/mL), which significantly correlate to its high content of polyphenolics, flavonoids and tannins. Further, fractions were rich in phenolic compounds. The present results support the possible use of the ethyl acetate fraction from E. nebrodensis in pharmaceutical industries as a natural antioxidant.
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