Oil was extracted from Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) seeds collected from Enugu, South-East Nigeria and evaluate its physico-chemical and antioxidant properties in comparism to palm oil. M. oleifera seeds gave oil yield of 41.47%. Refractive index, melting point ( C) and acid value (mg KOH g ) of o -1

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The chemical and antioxidant properties of the ethanolic extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit peels were investigated. Dried peels of T. tetraptera fruits were extracted with ethanol. The extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening using standard procedures. GC-MS was used in identifying the secondary metabolites. The antioxidant properties of the extract were determined by its ferric reducing activity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals scavenging activities, and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in hepatic tissues of albino male rats. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, terpenoids and phlebotannin. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of D-fructose, piperazine, octodrine, glycidol, glyceraldehydes, 6-octadecenoic acid and 9,12-octadecenoic acid, with D-fructose being the most predominant compound. The extract exhibited high antioxidant activities both in vitro and ex vivo, as indicated by its ability to scavenge DPPH and nitric oxide as well as inhibition of lipid peroxidation. This is further portrayed by its ferric reducing activity. These results suggest an antioxidant protective effect of the extract against oxidative hepatic damage and can be attributed to a synergetic action of the identified bioactive compounds.

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There is an increasing interest in the nutritional and health protecting properties of indigenous and under-utilized food resources particularly leafy vegetables that constitute basic sauce ingredient for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been suggested that an inadequate intake of trace minerals and vitamins in the diet may have a negative influence on the effectiveness of these antioxidant defence mechanisms. Leafy vegetables' inclusion in diets has been shown to be protective against incidence of chronic, degenerative and age-related diseases, due to the presence of antioxidants. Leafy vegetables are abundant in most developing countries and grow all year long in the wild. The antioxidant nutrients of the leaves of Clerodendrum volubile were evaluated and compared to gallic acid which served as the control. The leaves were air-dried at room temperature and grounded to fine powder. Two grams of the dried powdered plant sample were analysed for antioxidant minerals (Mn, Se, Fe, Cu, Zn) as well as for vitamins C and E. The total flavonoid and phenolic contents were also determined. Dried powdered plant samples were extracted at room temperature by percolation with ethanol. The extracts were used to determine the reducing ability and (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) DPPH scavenging ability. The manganese content (84.35 + 4.45 mg/g) was the highest; followed by zinc (24.50 + 1.56 mg/g) and selenium (2.50 + 0.21 mg/kg) content was lowest. Vitamin C had a higher content than that of E. The total flavonoid content was observed to be high (124 mg/g RUTIN). There was a corresponding increase in the reducing ability of the leaves with increase in concentration of the extracts in a dose-dependent relationship. A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed between the DPPH scavenging ability of the leafy vegetable extract (74.26 µg/ml) and gallic acid with highest reducing ability (0.28 µg/ml) observed at highest dose of the extract (100 µg/ml). Clerodendrum volubile is rich in micronutrients and flavonoids which may be responsible for its high antioxidant activities, and can act as primary and/or secondary antioxidants.