EVALUATION OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, PROXIMATE STATUS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF Gongronema latifolium (Benth) FRUIT

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the chemical composition, proximate status, and antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of G. latifolium fruit. The chemical composition was determined using spectrophotometric method. Moisture, ash, lipid, and fibre contents were determined using gravimetric method, while crude protein and total carbohydrate were determined using kjeldahl and difference methods respectively. Acute toxicity study was carried out with eighteen albino rats using lorke’s method. The in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities, reducing power and inhibition of lipid peroxidation were determined spectrophotometrically. The results of phytochemical composition obtained are flavonoids(39.32±0.88mgCE/g), phenols(37.50±1.41mgGAC/g), tannins(31.45±0.46mgTAE/g), oxalates(3.45±0.41mg/g), saponins (2.91±0.53%), alkaloids (0.23±0.06%), phytates (0.14±0.00%), beta carotene (0.12±0.03%), and lycopene (0.09±0.02%). Total carbohydrate, crude protein, lipid, moisture, ash, and crude fibre obtained are 64.59%, 10.07%, 9.20%, 8.62%, 4.96%, and 2.85% respectively. The fruit extract has antioxidant effect with EC50 318.65

Keywords

• Gongronema latifolium fruit
• Chemical constituents
• nutritional composition
• antioxidant enzymes