Phytochemical and Antioxidant Screening of Seed Extracts of Kenyan Custard Apple (Annona squamosa)
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Date
2017
Authors
Mwihia, Stephen K.
Ngugi, Mathew P.
Maingi, John M.
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Abstract
Medicinal plants have been the mainstay of traditional herbal medicine amongst rural dwellers
worldwide since antiquity for their preventive and curative properties. Investigation of plants for
phytochemicals and medicinal activities is imperative for the discovery of prospective novel molecules for
medicinal use. This current analysis was aimed at screening the seed extracts of Annona squamosa for the
presence of phytochemicals and their antioxidant activities. Extraction of the active components was through
organic solvents; methanol, dichloromethane and methanol: dichloromethane blend in Soxhlet extractor and
concentrated in a rotary evaporator. Investigation of phytochemicals was through standard qualitative screening
procedures while antioxidant activities of the extract were evaluated through the radical scavenging effect of
DPPH, H2O2 and the FRAP assay. Methanol was the most effective solvent in capturing phytochemicals
including tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, fixed oils and phenols. Dichloromethane captured only alkaloids and
fixed oils. The antioxidant data obtained was assayed against that of the standard (Ascorbic acid). The
methanolic extract was found to be the most potent extract with highest antioxidant activities followed by
methanol: dichloromethane blend while dichloromethane portrayed the least potency. The highest DPPH radical
scavenging was at 500mg/ml, while for H2O2 was at 1mg/ml while the highest FRAP activity was at 1mg/ml.
Methanolic extracts were the most potent while dichloromethane extracts showed the least DPPH and H2O2
radical scavenging activities. Phenols appear have significantly contributed towards the antioxidant activity of
the methanolic extracts and the alkaloids in dichloromethane extracts. Most of the inedible parts of commonly
consumed fruits have not been studied for their antioxidant activity but the current assay demonstrates that
seeds may be a promising source of antioxidants. This study shows that the seed extracts of Annona squamosa
may be utilised therapeutically in the management of oxidative stress related disorders.
Keywords:Annona squamosa, Phytochemical, Antioxidant, Radical Scavenging, diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH), Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and Ferrous Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Annona squamosa, Phytochemical, Antioxidant, Radical Scavenging, Diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), Ferrous Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)
Citation
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science Invention. www.ijpsi.org,Vol. 6(7) pg.24-30, July 2017