Phytoconstitution and Antioxidant Evaluation of the Ethanolic Leaf and Stem Bark Extracts of Soursop (Annona muricata)

Abstract

The qualitative and quantitative phytoconstitution and the quantitative antioxidant activity evaluation of the leaves and stem of soursop (Annona muricata) have been carried out. The plant parts were collected from Otuoke community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, Nigeria. The parts were chopped separately, dried, extracted with absolute ethanol and then concentrated under vacuum. The leaf extract (IDL) and stem extract (IDS) were evaluated for their phytoconstitution using standard procedures and the in vitro antioxidant activity using 1,1- diphenyl picrylhydrazine (DPPH) technique. Phytochemicals such as alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, saponins and terpenoids were detected and quantified in comparative levels in mg as: (alkaloids, 13.0), (phenols, 0.440), (flavonoids, 8.3 ×10 -5 ), (cardiac glycosides, 486.0), (tannins, 10.6) and (terpenoids, 322.0) in the leaves and (alkaloids, 20), (phenols, 0.70), (flavonoids, 8.2 ×10 -5 ), (cynogenic glycosides, 300.0), (tannins, 6.20) and (terpenoids, 215.0) in the stem with no significant different at p < 0.05 using t-test statistical analysis. The DPPH assay revealed that both IDL and IDS exhibited antioxidant activity in a dose gradient concentration of 1.0 mg/ml to 0.625 mg/ml. the present study has established that both the leaves and stem bark of soursop have phytochemicals and do exhibit antioxidant activity.

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