Evaluation of the total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol content, and flavonoids content in ethanolic fruit extract of Raphia hookeri and determination of the correlation between the antioxidant effects and the phytochemical contents

Abstract

In order to assess the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total polyphenol content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) in ethanol fruit extract, as well as to ascertain the relationship between the antioxidant effects and phytochemical levels, this study looked at all three variables. 11 groups of 10 rats each were formed out of the experimental animals. All experimental subjects received a single intraperitoneal injection of aluminium chloride, 4.2 mg/kg body weight. Groups 4 and 5 received n-hexane fraction at 10 and 20 mg/kg b. w., respectively, whereas the other groups received various fractions and crude extracts of R. hookeri. Ethyl acetate fraction was given to groups 6 and 7 at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg b. w. Aqueous fractions at 10 and 20 mg/kg b. w. were given to groups 8 and 9. While groups 10 and 11 got ethanolic crude extract daily for 21 days at doses of 200 mg/kg b. w. and 400 mg/kg b. w., respectively. All groups that were given AlCl3 - induced TBARS showed a significant (P 0.05) increase in vivo antioxidant activity. However, in the liver, kidney, and testes of all treatment groups, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity considerably increased (P 0.05). This suggests that a significant portion of the antioxidant activity displayed by the ethanolic fruit extract of R. hookeri is due to flavonoids.