Proximate Analysis and Antioxidant Activity Studies on Santalaceae (Viscum album) Leaf Extract

Abstract

This study characterised the methanolic leaf extract of mistletoe (Viscum album) parasitic on Moringa oleifera by assessing its phytochemical constituents, trace elements, extract yield, and in vitro DPPH radical-scavenging activity. Leaves collected in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, were air-dried, powdered, extracted with 80% methanol, and analysed using standard phytochemical procedures and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Antioxidant activity was assessed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method using extract concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 ppm, with vitamin C as the reference standard and a 30-minute reaction time. The extract yield was 16.25%. Qualitative phytochemical screening detected alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and steroids, whereas anthraquinones were absent. Trace element analysis detected copper (46.5 mg/kg), iron (231.6 mg/kg), lead (0.2 mg/kg), and zinc (75.2 mg/kg), while cadmium was not detected. The reported values for the detected metals were within the WHO/FAO maximum permissible values presented in the manuscript. DPPH inhibition increased with extract concentration, from 9.20% at 10 ppm to 52.02% at 100 ppm. These findings show that the analysed mistletoe leaf extract contains several phytochemical classes, selected trace elements, and concentration-dependent radical-scavenging activity under the conditions of the DPPH assay. The results are specific to the analysed sample and provide a basis for further quantitative characterisation of its constituents and antioxidant properties.