European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

NUTRITIONAL PROFILE, BIOACTIVE COMPOUND CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF EUCALYPTUS TERETICORNIS

Ani Onuabuchi Nnenna*, Ani Okwudili, Asogwa Kingsley Kelechi, Onyishi Chukwuebuka Kenechukwu, Ujah Innocent Izuchukwu and Ebulue Maximus Mayer

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the proximate, vitamins, minerals, anti-nutrients composition and bioactive compounds present in the ethanol leaf extract of Eucalyptus tereticornis as well as its antioxidant potential. Standard biochemical methods were used for the various evaluations. The antioxidant potentials were measured using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, iron reducing power, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and Nitric oxide scavenging antioxidant systems. The proximate analysis revealed that the leaf contains carbohydrate (41.07%), crude protein (13.8%), crude fiber (34.50%), crude fat (2.62%), ash (7.71%) and moisture (0.25%) while the anti-nutrient screening confirmed the presence of tannins, oxalate, phytate and saponin. The study revealed that the leaf extract contains significant amounts of vitamin B1 with appreciable amounts of vitamins B2, B9 and C. The studied mineral composition showed that Iron, Zinc and Sodium were the most abundant elements in the leaves while calcium and cobalt were recorded in trace amounts. The leaf extract also contains rich amount of Phenol, Flavonoids, Beta-carotene and Lycopene. The antioxidant activities of the plant extract increased with increase in concentration. The extract showed potent DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity comparably with the standard (Vitamin C) used. From the reducing power assay, the extract displayed a high H+ donating potential. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation of plant extract was also high. The plant has potent antioxidant activity and could serve in protecting the cells from deleterious effects of free radicals. The general results show that the plant contains high amounts of nutrients and bioactive compounds which are believed to have contributed to high antioxidant activities observed.

Keywords: Proximate, Vitamins, Minerals, Bioactive compounds, Antioxidant activity, Eucalyptus tereticornis.