Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of some selected medicinal plants used for malaria therapy in southwestern Nigeria.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2008
Authors
Ayoola G.A.
Coker H.A.B.
Adesegun S.A.
Adepoju-Bello A.A.
Obaweya K.
Ezennia E.C.
Atangbayila T.O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tropical J. Pharm. Research
Abstract
Purpose: Oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the development of anaemia in malaria. Indeed, increase in total antioxidant status has been shown to be important in recovery from malaria. The antioxidant activities of four medicinal plants traditionally used in the treatment of malaria in southwestern Nigeria were determined.
Methods: The ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Carica papaya Linn. [Caricaceae] , stem bark of
Magnifera indica Linn. [Anacardiaceae], leaves of Psidium guajava Linn. [Myrtaceae] and the leaves of
Vernonia amygdalina Del. [Compositae], were used in the present study. The plant parts commonly
used in the locality in malaria therapy were employed in this study. The plants were screened for the
presence of phytochemicals and, their effect on 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) was used
to determine their free radical scavenging activity.
Results: Phytochemical screening of the plants showed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids,
saponins, tannins and reducing sugars. M. indica did not contain cardiac glycosides and alkaloids while,
P. guajava also showed the absence of alkaloids and anthraquinones. Anthraquinones was similarly
absent from V. amygdalina. Concentrations of the plant extracts required for 50% inhibition of DPPH
radical scavenging effect (IC50) were recorded as 0.04 mg/ml, 0.313 mg/ml, 0.58 mg/ml, 2.30 mg/ml and
0.054 mg/ml for P. guajava, M. Indica, C. papaya, V. amygdalina and Vitamin C, respectively.
Conclusion: All the plants showed potent inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging activity, P. guajava being the most potent. The free radical scavenging (antioxidant) activities of these plants probably contribute to the effectiveness of the above plants in malaria therapy.
Key words: Carica papaya, Magnifera indica, Psidium guajava, Vernonia amygdalina, Antioxidants,
Malaria, DPPH, Oxidative stress.
Description
Scholarly articles
Keywords
Carica papaya , Magnifera indica , Antioxidants , Oxidative stress , Research Subject Categories::PHARMACY::Pharmaceutical chemistry
Citation
Ayoola GA, Coker HAB, Adesegun SA, Adepoju-Bello AA, Obaweya K, Ezennia EC, Atangbayila TO (2008). Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of some selected medicinal plants used for malaria therapy in southwestern Nigeria. Tropical J. Pharm. Research, 7 (3): 1019-1024.