Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Potential of Ethanol Extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) Guill & Perr and Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile

Abstract

Acacia nilotica (Gum Arabic) and Anogeissus leiocarpus (African birch) are multipurpose plants that have been used in the African traditional system of medicine. Various studies have proven their antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-diarrheal, and wound-healing effects. The aim of this research was to investigate the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant potential of the ethanol extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus stem bark and Acacia nilotica pod. Phytochemical screening was carried out using the standard protocol and compounds were identified by GC-MS and FT-IR analysis methods on a spectrophotometer system. Antioxidant assay was carried out using the free radical scavenging of the 1-1-diphynyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, phenols, alkaloids, flavanoids and terpenoids in both the investigated plants extract. Results from GC-MS analysis identified 69 and 76 compounds in A. Nilotica and A. leiocarpus respectively. The FT-IR analysis of A. Nilotica confirmed the presence of O-H, N-H, C=O, C-O, C-H, C-C, and C≡C functional groups. The FT-IR analysis of A. leiocarpus also confirmed the presence of O-H, C≡C, C-H, N-H, C=C, N-O, C-H, C-N, O=H, C-O and C=O functional groups. The IC50 value of A.leiocarpus was found to be 0.27±0.719µg/ml and that of A.nilotica was 0.11±0.002µg/ml which showed no significant difference (P<0.01) with the control (Ascorbic acid) 1.53±1.37 µg/ml. Hence the investigated plants can be suggested as promising agents for antioxidant drug development.