SAPONIN, PREPONDERANT PHYTOCHEMICAL IN CARICA PAPAYA LEAF EXTRACT, POSSIBLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS REPORTED ANTISICKLING & ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

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Date
2013
Authors
Imaga, N.O.A.
Adenekan, S.O.
Fakanye, T.J.
Olaniyan, F.K.
Alakaloko, A.A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNILAG Journal of Medicine, Science and Technology
Abstract
This study examined the preponderant phytochemicals and antioxidant potential in the extract fractions of Carica papaya leaf to ascertain possible mechanisms of action of the plant’s earlier reported antioxidant and antisickling properties. Soxhlet extraction of the C. papaya ground leaves gave rise to the initial crude methanolic extract of the papaya leaf and subsequent exhaustive fractionation using a separatory funnel with chloroform, ethylacetate and butanol organic solvents were done to obtain the desired extract fractions. Determination of quantitative and qualitative phytochemical constituents of C.papaya leaf extract and determination of antioxidant property of the different fractions were done using standard protocols. The results showed that Saponin was the most abundant phytochemical in the chloroform, butanol and water-soluble fractions but not the ethyl acetate fraction. While the antioxidant assay showed that the chloroform fraction had the highest antioxidant property. The result of this study supports earlier findings on the rich antioxidant property of the C. papaya leaf crude extract and specifically pinpoints the type of phytochemical and fraction that may possess more of this antioxidant property.
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Keywords
Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Chemistry::Biochemistry , Saponins , Phytochemicals , Antioxidant , Medicinal plants
Citation
Imaga N.O.A., Adenekan S.O., Fakanye T.J., Olaniyan F.K. and Alakaloko A.A. UNILAG Journal of Medicine, Science and Technology 1(1):1-8. 2013