Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of kenyan hydnora abyssinica A. Braun (Hydnoraceae)
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Date
2015Author
Onyancha, JM
Cherongis, CN
Nzivo, JM
Language
en_USMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Hydnora abyssinica is a leafless medicinal herb characterized by rhizome and flower only.
The decoction of the rhizome has been used in Kenya to manage infections, cancer and
removal of retained placenta. Plant secondary metabolites that exhibit antioxidant activity
are well documented and include mainly the phenolics. The objective of this study was to
carry out phytochemical screening and investigate the antioxidant activity of the methanol
extract of H. abyssinica rhizome. The extract was prepared by maceration. Phytochemical
screening was done by standard methods and in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated
using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. Phytochemical studies
revealed presence of alkaloids and glycosides which are reported for the first time being
characteristic of this plant while tannins, phenols, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids and fatty
acids confirms reports of other similar studies on the Sudanese Hydnora abyssinica.
Saponins, volatile oils and coumarins were not present in both the rhizome and flowers.
DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the rhizome methanolic extract showed potential
antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 26.7 µg/ml compared with that of 29.3 µg/ml for Lascorbic
acid standard. Activity of the methanolic extract may be associated with the
presence of a number of varied classes of phytochemicals. This study perhaps pave way for
further studies to provide data that would validate its medicinal uses and focus on bioassay
guided fractionation and isolation of active compounds from its extracts.
Citation
Onyancha, J. M., Cherongis, C. N., Nzivo, J. M., Muriithi, G. I., Njuguna, D. G., & Mwalukumbi, J. M. Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Kenyan Hydnora abyssinica A. Braun (Hydnoraceae).Publisher
University of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10387]