Abstract
Background: Peltophorum africanum has been traditionally used to relief stress induced diseases. The study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate extract.Material and methods: The in vitro antioxidant activities of Peltophorum africanum stem bark extract was examined in this study by means of +radical scavenging and ferric reducing power analysis using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2`-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6- sulfonic acid (ABTS) kit, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), iron (iii) chloride (Fe3+) and nitric oxide (NO). In assessing the likely effects of secondary metabolites on the activities observed; total proanthocyanidins, phenolics, flavonols, and flavonoids were determined using standard phytochemical methods. Data was analyzed by ANOVA test and the p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Extract scavenging activity of 88.73± 6.69 % (25 μg mL-1), 53.93±1.09 % (25 μg mL-1), 87.293±6.64 % (25 μg mL-1), 10.55±2.16 mM (0.42 mM) and 3.8115±0.06 (25 μg mL-1) were recorded for H2O2, NO, DPPH, ABTS and Fe3+ reducing power respectively. These values were comparable to the standard compounds; DBPC*BHT, L (+) - Ascorbic acid and Trolox™ (p < 0.05). Proanthocyanidins (92.18±4.68 mg/g) occurred more (p < 0.05) in the extract when compared to all other compounds tested: phenolics (60.53±1.46 mg/g) > flavonoids (18.37± 2.11 mg/g), > flavonols (11.20±3.90 mg/g). However the difference between flavonols and flavonoids was not significant (p > 0.05) at 95% confidence interval.Conclusion: The results of this study validated the folkloric use of P. africanum which could be exploited as an easily available and a cheaper source of natural antioxidants.Key words: Peltophorum africanum, antioxidant, phytochemicals, polyphenolics, radicals.
Highlights
Antioxidants are molecules capable of neutralizing the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through an enzymatic and non enzymatic defense system (Pazdzioch-Czochra and Widen)
The results of this study validated the folkloric use of P. africanum which could be exploited as an available and a cheaper source of natural antioxidants
Some synthetic antioxidant agents including butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and the related compound, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are phenolics compounds that are often added to foods to preserve fats
Summary
Antioxidants are molecules capable of neutralizing the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through an enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and non enzymatic defense system (vitamin E, vitamin C and glutathione) (Pazdzioch-Czochra and Widen). Radicals are chemically unstable atoms that cause oxidative damage to various bio-molecules including lipid cells, proteins and DNA. There is increasing interest in the discovery of natural antioxidants from medicinal plants These antioxidants act as free radical scavengers by preventing and repairing damages caused by ROS, and can enhance the immune defense mechanism and significantly reduce the risks of cancer and other degenerative diseases. This activity is mainly due to the presence of compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, flavonols, carotenoids and proanthocyanidins (Ebrahimzadeh et al, 2010). The study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate extract
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