Anti-Oxidant and Anti Tyrosinase Effect of Zizyphus Spina-Christi Seed Extract

: Medicinal plant such as Ziziphus Spina-Christi (ZSC) has been used for the treatment and prevention of several ailments in human and animals.It is recommended for the management of diseases in which free radical species are produced as a result of oxidative stress. However, there is lack of systematic study on the antioxidant and antityrosinase capacities of ZSCF from Nigeria. The present study quantifies the anti-oxidant and anti tyrosinaseability of the ZSCF grown in the Gwaski, Southern Borno state Nigeria. Antioxidant activity was assessed by using 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Superoxide-Radical Scavenging Activity (SRSA), Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP assay). Overall the ZSCF showed strong antioxidant ability and high anti tyrosinase effect. There is variation in the oxidation power (DPPH) with 15.5% at the concentration of 7.8 μ g mL G 1 -88.4% at 1000 μ g mL G 1 and 22.5% at 7.8 μ g mL G 1 as well as 63.5% at 1000 μ g mL G 1 for FRAP assay. The percentage antityrosinase activities varied from 4.1% at 7.8 μ g mL G 1 -70.5% at 1000 μ g mL G 1 for plant crude extract. The observed antioxidantand anti tyrosinase ability of ZSCF may be due to abundant presence of phenolic contents and high electron donating ability to neutralize free radicals.