TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT AND INVITRO ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF KigeliaafricanaFRUIT

ABSTRACT

Kigeliaafricana, used to manage certain conditions among indigenous communities is known to contain a rich array of antioxidant components.It has been shown to ease discomfort, suffering and increase productivity. Syntheticantioxidants are not readily available and have adverse side effects. Also, they accumulate in the body causing liver damage and carcinogenesis. Such problems are not seen when natural antioxidants extracted from plants such as Kigeliaafricanaare used. These extracts are safe, potentially nutritional and have therapeutic effects and as an alternative herbal medicine possess bioactive compounds that are safer and efficient in the management of various diseases and disorders. We carried out various assays to quantitatively investigate the antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of kigeliaafricana. For thisresearch, the plant samples were were freshly obtained from Ijare town of Ondo state and transported to the University of Benin. After extraction with methanol, the extract of Kigeliaafricanafruit were subjected to Total phenolic Content determination using the FolinCiocalteu method and other antioxidantassays such as Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay and Reducing Power Assay.These assays provides the quantification of the antioxidant activity in the fruit extract and it is compared to their standards. It is observed that the fruit extract showed a consistent increase in itsrange of values as the extract concentration is increased as seen in Ferric Reducing Power, suggesting a concentration dependent antioxidanteffect. In Reducing Power assay, a slightly approximate value with the standard is observed. Thisquantitative study implies a potential therapeutic effect especially in combating oxidative stress related diseases or as a natural antioxidant source for functional foods or dietary supplements. Further research is imperative to unravel the specific compounds and their mechanism of action to ascertain the long term safety of kigeliaafricana.