Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Box 24
2 Department of Applied Chemistry Box 24 Navrongo, UER
3 WACCBIP, University of Ghana, Legon
4 WACCBIP, University of Ghana
Abstract
Vitex doniana is a multi-purpose tree found in Africa with a lot of benefits. Different parts of the tree have been put to various uses including medicinal and nutritional purposes. The tree is abundant in some West African countries including Ghana and its black colored fruit is eaten by indigenes. Evaluation of useful properties of the fruit is earmarked to generate data on its useful properties when consumed, otherwise also to drive its commercialization. In the current research, antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical studies were carried out on the crude aqueous extracts of the fruit. The antioxidant potential was assessed through reducing/antioxidant power through ion chelation, DPPH total antioxidant capacity and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity studies. Antimicrobial activity on B. spp, S. aureus and E. coli using the agar-disc diffusion method, and phytochemical screening were also carried out. In the antioxidant studies, the ferric reducing antioxidant power of the extract was from 55.60±2.2 - 80.77±04 %, the DPPH scavenging activity was in the range 32.47±1.6 - 49.51±5.9 % and the hydrogen peroxide reduction was in the range 20.46±1.8 - 28.84±0.8 %. At the concentrations tested, the extract had no visible antimicrobial activity on strains of Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli used in the study. Among the eight phytochemicals screened in the extract, saponin, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins, phenolics and steroids were present in the extract. Toxicity studies are required to evaluate the biosafety of fruit for continuous consumption and also commercialisation.
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