Evaluation of In vitro Antioxidant and Qualitative Phytochemical Analysis of Methanol Leaf Extract of Fadogia cienkowskii Scheinf Fam. Rubiaceae

Aim: Fadogia cienkowskii Scheinf has been used in ethno medicine for the treatment of pyrexia, convulsion in children, inflammation and malaria. The aim of this work is to ascertain the presence of some phytochemicals in the leaf of Fadogia cienkowskii Scheinf and to investigate the antioxidant property of the methanol leaf extract of the plant.

Study Design: This work was designed to investigate the presence of some phytochemicals in the plant and to further evaluate the antioxidant property of the methanol leaf extract of the plant using three models.

Methodology: The pulverized leaves (1 kg) was extracted with 5.0 L of 95% methanol employing cold maceration technique. The extract obtained was dried using rotatory evaporator.

Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical evaluations were carried out using standard methods. Antioxidant capacity was investigated using 2,2 diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing antioxidant power and total antioxidant capacity models.

Results: The percentage yield of extract is 20%. Flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids and steroids were present in the extract. Total phenol concentration was 0.55+ 0.13 ug/ml. The amount of flavonoid was 3.28+0.01 g by gravimetry with sample weight of 5+0.02 gm. The antioxidant activity of the plant methanol leaf extract showed maximal effect as demonstrated by its EC 50 of 3.811+0.03 ug/ml compared with the ascorbic acid standard 4.989+0.02 ug/ml using DPPH method. This result was validated by the FRAP and TAC models.

Conclusion: The presence of polyphenolic biomolecular compounds in the extract confirms the use of the plant in Ethnomedicine.