Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Oil Palm Tree (Elaeis guineensis) Bark for Potential Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Applications

Okwuego; Peter Obinna; Momoh; Esther R

doi:10.56201/ijhpr.vol.10.no11.2025.pg14.27

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Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Oil Palm Tree (Elaeis guineensis) Bark for Potential Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Applications

Okwuego, Peter Obinna and Momoh, Esther R

Abstract

The oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) bark is an underutilized agro-industrial by-product that represents a potential reservoir of bioactive compounds with nutritional, pharmaceutical, and industrial relevance. This study explored its phytochemical profile, nutritional composition, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activity using methanolic and hexane extracts. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phenolics, anthocyanins, cyanogenic glycosides, and other secondary metabolites known to contribute to health-promoting effects. Quantitative analysis indicated a higher extraction yield in methanol (12.42%) compared to hexane (5.98%), underscoring the polarity effect on metabolite recovery. GC-FID and FTIR characterization confirmed a phenolic-rich composition, with functional groups such as hydroxyl (O–H), aliphatic (C–H), carbonyl/ether (C–O), and amine (C– N), which are commonly linked to antioxidant and antimicrobial mechanisms. Antioxidant assessment using the DPPH radical scavenging assay demonstrated strong free radical inhibition, with the hexane extract showing the highest activity (84.97%). Antimicrobial evaluation via disk diffusion method revealed measurable inhibitory effects against pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, highlighting its potential as a natural antimicrobial agent. The integration of phytochemical, spectroscopic, and bioactivity analyses underscores the potential of E. guineensis bark as a sustainable source of nutraceutical and therapeutic agents. These findings provide a scientific basis for valorizing palm bark waste into high-value bioactive products for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and functional food industries.

Keywords

Elaeis guineensisphytochemicalsantioxidant activityantimicrobial efficacy

References

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Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Oil Palm Tree (Elaeis guineensis) Bark for Potential Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Applications

Abstract

Keywords

References

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