Author(s): Ganyam M
The study aimed to investigate the in-vitro antioxidant properties of methanol and N-hexane crude extracts of Nauclea Latifolia unriped fruits. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of methanol and N-hexane crude extracts of Nauclea Latifolia unriped fruits were determined spectrophotometrically in duplicates and their antioxidant activities, examined in-vitro using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay (FRAP), all were done according to standard laboratory practices. Statistical analysis were carried out by one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) supplemented by Duncan multiple range test using SPSS version 20. Results obtained revealed, the presence of phenol, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids in both extracts, however, methanol extract revealed a higher concentration of tannin (0.994 ± 0.070 mg/ml) TAE when compared with N-hexane extract with a value of 0.263 ± 0.028 (mg/ml) TAE. Also, N-hexane extract revealed a higher percentage (15%) of alkaloid when compared to methanol extract (10%). The percentage inhibition of oxidation in both extracts decreased down the column with respect to decrease in concentration of the extracts. Methanol extracts exhibited higher percentage inhibition on DPPH (84.3%) at 100 mg/ml, N-hexane exhibited a higher inhibition of 88.8% for H2O2 at 100 mg/ml. Methanol and N-hexane extracts revealed a higher percentage inhibition of 87.6% and 88.0% respectively at 10 mg/ml for FRAP. The absorbance recorded also correlated with the level of percentage inhibitions of methanol and N-hexane crude extracts of Nauclea Latifolia unripe fruits. The study thus revealed methanol and N-hexane extracts of unripe fruits of Nauclea Latifolia possesses in-vitro antioxidant properties at the highest concentrations tested, and may be used in management of oxidative stress related diseases.
