ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the antioxidant components (total phenolic, flavonoid, P- carotene, lycopene and Ascorbic acid) and in vitro antioxidant activities of the methanol extract of Acanthus montanus and Funtumia africana respectively. The antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH, FRAP, Nitric oxide scavenging activity respectively. The results from the study showed that the methanol extract of Acanthus montanus and Funtumia africana possessed high antioxidant components lycopene, Ascorbic acid and [3-carotene, Flavonoid, Phenolic content respectively with the flavonoid content(l349.4 ± 8.493 and 2552.6 ± 12.38) being the highest. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) ofthe two extracts at low concentrations was observed to be high. Furthermore there was a dose dependent increase in the percentage inhibition of 2,2-Diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and percentage nitric oxide scavenging activity ofthe two extracts respectively. EC50 was used to determine the percentage inhibition and scavenging activity. EC50 of DPPH (0.036, 0.061, 0.085mg/ml) showed that the extract ofAcanthus montanus inhibits DPPH at lower concentration than Funtumia africana when compared to the standard (Ascorbic acid). On the other hand the EC50 of Nitric oxide scavenging activity (56, 74.63, 64.19 pg / ml) showed that Funtumia africana scavenges free radicals than Acanthus montanus at lower concentration when compared to the standard. The result from the investigation suggests that the methanol extract ofFuntumia africana scavenges free radical atmuch lower concentration than the methanol extract ofAcanthus montanus when compared to the standard (curcumin). These further suggests that the two extracts possess antioxidant properties, which has direct effect on the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts and can be used as an efficient antioxidant to prevent and manage health conditions associated with oxidative stress and free radical generation.