Phytochemical and in vitro antioxidant properties of the methanolic extract of fruits of Blighia sapida, Vitellaria paradoxa and Vitex doniana

Abstract

Rabiat U. Hamzah, Evans C. Egwim, Adamu Y. Kabiru, Mary B. Muazu

The Methanolic extract of fruits of Blighia sapida, Vitex doniana and Vitellaria paradoxa were screened for their phytochemical constituents and in vitro antioxidant properties using standard procedures. Results revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavoniods and phenols in all the fruits studied. Quantitative phytochemical determination of the fruits showed that tannin content of the extract ranged between 1.04 ± 0.05 mg/g and 1.44 ± 0.05 mg/g, saponins between 2.3 ± 0.05 mg/g and 7 ± 0.04 mg/g, total phenols between 55.6 ± 0.05-96.4 mg/g, and total flavonoid content between 20.8 ± 0.05 mg/g and 72.8 mg/g. All the fruits studied showed antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner. Blighia sapida extract showed the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPHH) free radical scavenging activity (78 ± 0.01%) and reductive potential compared to other extracts. Vitellaria paradoxia showed the highest capacity to inhibit lipid peroxidation (72%) than other fruit extracts while Vitex doniana had the lowest effect in inhibition of lipid peroxidation (60.7 ± 0.05%). This study showed that methanolic extracts of fruits of Blighia sapida, Vitellaria paradoxa and Vitex doniana could be a source of antioxidants.