Antioxidant Properties of Selected African Vegetables, Fruits and Mushrooms: A Review

Hamzah, Rabiat Unekwu; Jigam, Ali A.; Makun, Hussaini Anthony; Egwim, Evans Chidi

doi:10.5772/52771

Cited by 23 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 219 publications

(184 reference statements)

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“…However, available reviews on the antioxidant potencies of African natural products; focused only on medicinal plants [21], published decade ago with emphasis only on 38 plants [22], others are limited to Cameroonian medicinal plants, [23], few African vegetables, fruits and mushrooms [24], and hepatoprotective activities of medicinal plants [25]. This review is intended to serve as scientific baseline information for the documented African natural products with antioxidants and hepatoprotectve reputation as well as a starting point for future studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

African natural products with potential antioxidants and hepatoprotectives properties: a review

et al. 2016

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Free radicals are highly reactive molecules generated during oxidation reactions which in turn initiate chain reactions resulting to cellular damage. There is substantial evidence implicating free radicals especially reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the etiology of more than one hundred degenerative disorders in humans including, arthritis, atherosclerosis, ischemia and reperfusion injury of many tissues, gastritis, diabetics, central nervous system injury, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cancer. Scientific evidence postulates that bioactive compounds especially from natural products are capable of providing protection against free radicals. Consequently, few decades have witnessed a surfeit of research geared towards validating the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of the natural products. In this review, African natural products whose antioxidants activities were scientifically validated either in their crude extracts and/or derived products have been discussed. A total 1076 plants species representing 287 family, 132 isolated compounds and 7 insect/mollusk secreation were found. The plant species from the following families; Fababceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Moraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Combretaceae and Malvaceae have received more scientific attention than others. Analysis of the reports revealed that Combretum apiculatum, Telfaria occidentalis, Acalypha racemosa, Garcinia lucida were the most active plant extracts from African flora. The most active ROS-detoxifying phytochemicals were moracin T, U, S and R (84-87), oleanolic acid (54), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,8,3′,5′-tetramethoxyflavone (89), 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-3,8,4′,5′-trimethoxyflavone (88), luteolin (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxy flavone) (117) and genistein (4′,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone) (116). The significant antioxidant potential demonstrated by some crude extracts and their constituent compounds render them good candidates for the development of new drugs. Although, the study of the mechanisms of actions as well as clinical validation of some of these isolated compounds is lacking. It is hoped that pertinent scientist and stakeholders will look further into some of these compounds for detailed authentification and subsequent commercialization.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

African natural products with potential antioxidants and hepatoprotectives properties: a review

et al. 2016

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“…They are loyal protectors and nurturers of our cells, repelling disease, and promoting good health (Rani et al, 2004;Karadeniz et al, 2005). Antioxidants can be derived from healthy foods or in the form of supplements and they include a family of naturally occuring compounds like vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene, lycopene, flavonoids, and more (Enemo et al, 2010;Hamzah et al, 2013;Oyewole et al, 2013;Venter et al, 2014). These antioxidants are believed to protect cells from free radicals, harmful oxygen molecules which are thought to cause the cell damage that contributes to the development of cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutraceutical and health benefits of some vegetables eaten in Enugu State Nigeria

Ogbuanu¹,

Amujiogu²,

O.³

et al. 2014

Afr. J. Food Sci.

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Little or nothing is known about the nutritional and medicinal values of some of the vegetables eaten inEnugu state of Nigeria. This study aimed to quantify the total antioxidants as phenols, total flavonoids, vitamin C content and reducing properties of six vegetables [Teltaria occidentals (ugu), Gnetum africanum (ukase), Piper quineense (uziza), Gongronema latifolium (utazi), Achyranthes spendens (awa), Occimum grattissimum (nchegnwu)]. Colorimetric method was performed using Gallic acid and rutin standard reagents for total antioxidants (phenols) and total flavonoids, respectively. The vitamin C and reducing properties contents were also determined using 2, 6-dichilorophenol indophenols (titrimetric) and trichloroacetic acid colorimetric methods, respectively. The result reveals that G. africanum (ukazi) ranked the best of all the vegetables assayed for total flavonoids (0.58 mg/g), total antioxidants (49 mg/g) as phenols, vitamin C (0.91 mg/100 mL) and reducing property (64 mg/g) followed by A. spendens (awa) (total flavonoids, 1.57 mg/g; total antioxidants; 50 mg/g; vitamin C; 0.43 mg/100 mL and reducing property. 81 mg/g), T. occidentalis (ugu), (total flavonoids, 0.58 mg/g; total antioxidant; 49 mg/g; vitamin, C 0.69 and total reducing property 64 mg/g), O. grattissimum (nchanwu) (total flavonoids, 0.36 mg/g; total antioxidant, 45 mg/g; vitamin C, 0.60 mg/100 mL; and total reducing property 80 mg/g) while P. guineense (uziza) (total flavonoids, 0.71 mg/g; total antioxidants, 36 mg/g; vitamin C, 0.40 mg/100 Ml and total reducing property, 42 mg/g) and G. latifolium (utazi) (total flavonoids, 0.36 mg/g; total antioxidant, 8 mg/g; vitamin C, 0.33 mg/100 Ml and total reducing property, 81 mg/g) are the least. However, the result of the study have highlighted the nutritional and medicinal richness of these vegetables and encourages the increased consumption of them to compensate nutrient deficiency and therefore could be a useful source to prevent or attenuate damages such as lipid peroxidation, glycation of proteins and inactivation of enzymes caused by free radicals.

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“…Both plants have a long history of use in folk medicine in African (Hamzah et al, 2013). These plants are recognized as sources of natural antioxidants that can protect against oxidative stress and thus play an important role in chemoprevention of diseases that have their aetiology and pathophysiology in reactive oxygen species [ROS] (Atawodi, 2005;Odukoya et al, 2001).…”

Section: Graded Fresh Leave Extracts Of Vernoniaamygdalina and Ocimummentioning

confidence: 99%

In vivo evaluation of graded fresh leave extracts of vernoniaamygdalina and ocimumgratissimum on some oxidative stress indicators in rats

Iyawe

Azih

2015

Biomed Res Ther

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Abstract-Background: Vernoniaamygdalina and Ocimumgratissimumare widely used plants in the tropics. The leaves of these plants are popularly acclaimed to have medicinal values, with scarce information on the effect of graded extracts in mediating oxidative stress. The interest on these leaves derives from the need to have an insight to the possible effect of thesegraded leaves extracts may have on oxidative stress. Objectives: The objective of the study was to examine the effect of graded extracts of Vernoniaamygdalina and Ocimumgratissimum leaves specifically on free radical inhibition, reducing power and lipid peroxidation in rat liver and kidneys. Methods: The leave samples were collected and air dried, homogenized and sieved to obtain particle sizes of ≤ 0.250mm. Aqueous and methanolic extracts of samples were obtained and used to assay for total alkaloid and phenolic contents, free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and the extent of lipid peroxidationin liver and kidneys were determined, using standard analytical assays. Results: Phenolic contents of both leave extracts were higher in aqueous medium vernoniaamygdalina (0.85 ± 0.07mgGAE/g) and Ocimumgratissimum (1.59 ± 0.13mgGAE/g). The alkaloid contents of the leaves were higher in methanolic extracts, with Ocimumgratissimum highest (0.96 ± 0.04μg/g) and vernoniaamygdalina (0.38 ± 0.01μg/g). The reducing power of these leaves increased with increasing extract concentrations. Ocimumgratissimum had the highest reducing power in both methanolic (3.00 O.D) and aqueous (2.82 O.D) medium in comparison with respective butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT) (2.49 O.D) and ascorbic acid (2.16 O.D) controls. The ability to scavenge free radicals increased with increasing extract concentrations in both leaves with highest percentages in aqueous extracts.Ocimumgratissimum(95.90%) and vernoniaamygdalina(98.80%) compared to control (100%).The leave extracts of both plants significantly (p<0.05) increased lipid peroxidations in liver and kidneys of rats. Conclusion: Fresh leaves of Ocimumgratissimumand vernoniaamygdalinahave shown potentials to be valuable in reducing powers and free radical quenching.

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Antioxidant Properties of Selected African Vegetables, Fruits and Mushrooms: A Review

Cited by 23 publications

References 219 publications

African natural products with potential antioxidants and hepatoprotectives properties: a review

African natural products with potential antioxidants and hepatoprotectives properties: a review

Nutraceutical and health benefits of some vegetables eaten in Enugu State Nigeria

In vivo evaluation of graded fresh leave extracts of vernoniaamygdalina and ocimumgratissimum on some oxidative stress indicators in rats

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