Quantitative Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Potential of Adansonia digitata leaves and stem extract

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the phytochemical properties of the baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) stems and leaves. The dried powder of leaves and stem extract were analyzed for the presence or absence of different phytochemicals, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids etc. The quantitative analysis revealed that the leaves and stem of A. digitata are rich in total phenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids and saponins. The presence of these compounds was known to show medicinal potential as well as antioxidant activity and this justifies the use of baobab leaves as one of the major sources of soup in Africa. Chlorophyll (chl.) estimation was also studied by two different methods in fresh leaves and dried leaves. Fresh leaves have high chlorophyll content of 2.0 mg/g while shade and sun-dried leaves have content 1.664 mg/g and 1.047 mg/g respectively. With DMSO, high chlorophyll content of fresh leaves is 2.240 mg/g and for shade and sun-dried leaves, it is 1.695 mg/g and 1.526 mg/g respectively. This represents that high chlorophyll and phytochemicals present in plants show high antioxidant properties. Subsequently, antioxidant activity at different concentrations 62.5, 125, 250, 500, 750 μg/ml of the extract was established using FRAP assay and DPPH action radical scavenging activity methods respectively. Ethanolic extract shows higher antioxidant activity than hydroethanolic extract.