Phytochemical composition and free radical scavenging activity of Cucurbita maxima fruit juice
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6084/rjas.v1i1.162Keywords:
Cucurbita maxima; phytochemicals, radical scavenging, antioxidantAbstract
Phytochemical constituents and antioxidant potentials of Cucurbita maxima fruit juice was evaluated using standard methods. The result obtained showed that Cucurbita maxima fruit juice contains some phytochemicals such as flavonoids and tannins in high concentration, phenols, and saponins in moderate concentration and terpenoids in low concentration. Alkaloids and steroids were not detected. The percentage inhibition of DPPH radical by Cucurbita maxima fruit juice was concentration dependent with IC50 of 50.54±2.22 μg/ml relative to the standard (ascorbic acid) with IC50 of 26.88±0.57 μg/ml. The nitric oxide radical scavenging activity of the juice was dose dependent with IC50 of 79.54±1.27 μg/ml relative to the standard with IC50 of 32.1 ±3.79 μg/ml. The ferric reducing power of the juice was also concentration dependent with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 83.58 ± 5.37 μg/ml relative to standard (gallic acid) with an IC50 of 60.64 ± 2.81μg/ml. Our result suggests that the use of Cucurbita maxma in traditional medicine could be attributed to its phytochemical constituents. We therefore conclude that Cucurbita maxima fruit juice could serve as component of a promising nutritional and therapeutic preparation.
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