Chemical investigation and antioxidant activity of fractions of Lannea humilis (Oliv.) Engl

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to establish the phytochemical constitution and antioxidant activity of the fractions of Lannea humilis. Chemical investigation and antioxidant activity of the fractions were carried out using standard methods. Steroids and terpenes were available in the hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol fractions, while tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids were available in the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts. Carbohydrate and saponins were available in the methanol fraction. The antioxidant activity of this plant extracts demonstrated a dose-dependent increment. The ethyl acetate extract displayed most noteworthy antioxidant activity of 98% at 240 µg.mL-1, followed by the hexane extract which had a percentage antioxidant activity of 92 % at 240 µg.mL-1. The methanol extract demonstrated percentage antioxidant activity of 71 % at 240 µg.mL. This result shows that this plant can be used as a good antioxidant. These observations demonstrated that this plant has antioxidant activity and consequently can be used as an antioxidant agent