Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Properties of the Ethanolic Extract from Tetracarpidium conophorum (African Walnut) and Pterocarpus soyauxii (oha) Leaf

Abstract

The study investigated the phytochemical and antioxidant vitamins constituents of the leaves of Pterocarpus soyansii (oha) and the nuts of Tertracarpidium conophorum (African Walnut). The phytochemicals and antioxidant vitamins were determined on the ethanolic extracts using standard methods. The results of the phytochemical studies revealed the presence of the tested phytoconstituents in both plants using ethanol extraction medium. Tetracaarpidium conophorium contained terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, phlobatanins, flavonoids and saponins while Pterocarpus soyansii contained terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and saponins. The two plants extract contained copious amounts of antioxidant vitamins A, C and E. African Walnut possessed higher values of vitamin A(1283.30±30 mg/100 g) followed by vitamin C(14.80±2.43 mg/100 g) and vitamin E(0.22±0.02 mg/100 g). The Pterocarpus soyansii leaves exhibited the highest values of vitamin A(48.00±0.01 mg/100 g) followed by vitamin E(0.29±0.01) and vitamin C(0.32±0.02). The results show that the antioxidant vitamins A and C were significantly higher in Tertracarpidium conophorum than in Pterocarpus soyansii.  The results suggested and showed that both African Walnut and ‘oha’ leaves possess copious amounts of the antioxidant vitamins and can serve as good nutritional supplements. These substances may be responsible for the medicinal and nutritional properties of the plants.