Evaluation of Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Potential of Ocimum gratissimum and Telfairia occidentalis Leaves

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the phytochemical content and antioxidant potential of Ocimum gratissimum and Telfairia occidentalis leaves.

Study Design: This study was made to fit a one-way Analysis of Variance.

Place and Duration of Study: This research was carried out in the Department of Premedical Science, Educational Advancement Centre, Ibadan and Pharmaceutical Laboratory of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria between January and June, 2018.

Methods: Both plants were purchased from Bodija market in Ibadan, Nigeria. The leaves were removed from the stem and washed with running water to remove contaminants. It was oven dried at 37˚C and milled into powder and extracted with ethanol. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the phytochemical content as well as antioxidant potential were investigated.

Results: The result showed that O. gratissimum is significantly higher in flavonoids content but lower in alkaloids when compared with those of T. occidentalis at P<0.05. No significant difference was observed in the concentrations of saponin, tannin, total phenolics and phytic acid in O. gratissimum when compared with those of T. occidentalis respectively at P<0.05. Antioxidant investigation showed that O. gratissimum is higher in ferric-ion reducing power but lower in ascorbic acid when compared with T. occidentalis respectively at P<0.05. The percentage inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate radical scavenging potential was observed to decrease with decreasing concentration for both plants but that of O. gratissimum was lower when compared with that of T. occidentalis respectively.

Conclusion: This pharmacological study is a useful tool for further drug development from the natural plant products.