Volume 18, Issue 41, January - June, 2024

Free Radicals scavenging potency of ethanolic fruit extract of Selim pepper (Xylopia aethiopica)

Peter Folorunsho Ayodele^1♦, Adio Jamiu Akamo², Lukman Bolaji Bello¹, Samuel Tobi Farohunbi¹, Adekemi Titilayo Adesulu-Dahunsi¹, Oluseyi Adeboye Akinloye²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Computing and Applied Sciences, Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, Kwara State, Nigeria
²Department of Biochemistry, College of Biosciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Computing and Applied Sciences, Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, Kwara State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Free radicals (FRs) are unstable molecular species with unpaired electrons, capable of causing damage to cells and the human body, leading to illness and aging. The ability to scavenge the free radicals possesses a property referred to as anti-oxidant property. This study aimed to investigate the ability of Selim pepper (Xylopia aethiopica) fruit ethanolic extract (XAFEE) to scavenge some free radicals. Materials and Methods: A powdered sample of dried Xylopia aethiopica fruit was soaked in 95% ethanol (1: 10 w/v) for 48 hours on a shaker to ensure maximum mixture and extraction. Filtration of the extract with clean Whatman No.1 paper followed. The filtrate was placed in a water bath to allow evaporation of the solvent, and the consequent concentration followed using a rotary evaporator. XAFEE-GC-MS and the in-vitro analyses against standard (vitamin C) on 2, 2-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical (ABTS●), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydroxyl radical (DPPH●), nitric oxide (NO), hydroxyl radical (OH●), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were carried out. Results: XAFEE-GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of thirteen (13) bioactive compounds. The extract showed higher remarkable inhibitions of ABTS●, DPPH●, NO, OH●, and H2O2 than the standard vitamin C. Conclusion: The bioactive compounds of Selim pepper (Xylopia aethiopica) fruit and its subsequent free radicals-scavenging activities suggest it is an ideal natural antioxidant agent and, thus can be explored in feed systems, animal feed formulation, and drug preparation.

Keywords: Chimba; Eeru; Ethiopian pepper; Free radicals; GC-MS analysis of Xylopia aethiopica Selim pepper; Uda

Drug Discovery, 2024, 18(41), e9dd1974

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v18i41.e9dd1974

Published: 23 February 2024