ABSTRACT

Antioxidant potentials of the methanol leaf extract of Piper guineense (Uzuza) leaves was evaluated using standard analytical procedures. Properties such as phytochemicals, proximate composition, mineral composition and total antioxidant potentials were determined. The result of the phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloid (20.67 ± 0.85 %), flavonoid (0.70 ± 0.02 %), phenol, (7.21 ± 0.21 %), tannins (0.72 ± 0.01 %), saponins (14.82 ± 0.36 %) and HCN (126.00 ± 10.58 mg/kg). The proximate composition assay revealed that the plant contains moisture content (11.40 ± 0.37 %), crude fat (1.90.00 ± 0.07 %), ash content (17.30 ± 0.46 %), crude fibre (21.64 ± 0.80 %), crude protein (13.62 ± 0.57 %) and carbohydrate (45.54 ± 1.00 %). The mineral elements present were copper (75.1 ± 0.44 mg/kg), iron (33.80 ± 0.53 mg/kg), magnesium (23.60 ± 0.60 mg/kg), manganese (74.00 ± 1.00 mg/kg) and zinc (124.00 ± 10.21 mg/kg). The total antioxidant potentials of Piper guineense leaf extract was 16.5mg equivalent. A graph change of change in absorbance against concentration of the standard (ascorbic acid) (mg/L) and the graph of change in absorbance against the concentration of the extract (mg/L) was plotted. The result showed that piper guineense  leaf aside from having valid nutritional and therapeutic potentials, is also a good source of antioxidant that is capable of enhancing human nutraceutical needs.