Phytochemical composition, mineral content and antioxidant activities of the methanol extract of Curcuma longa and Viscum album

Sarah Onyenibe Nwozol; Magdalene Eno Effiong

doi:10.22146/jfps.708

Sarah Onyenibe Nwozol University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Magdalene Eno Effiong Nutritional/industrial Biochemistry Unit, Biochemistry Dept, FBMS, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

Keywords: curcuma longa, viscum album, antioxidant activity, DPPH, flavonoid, phytochemical

Abstract

The medicinal value of plants have assumed a more important dimension in the past few
decades owing largely to the discovery that extracts from plants contain not only minerals and primary
metabolites but also a diverse array of secondary metabolites with antioxidant potentials. However, there is
dearth of knowledge on the medicinal uses and nutritional benefits of Curcuma longa and Viscum album. This
study was designed to focus on the phytochemical and mineral composition in addition to the antioxidant
activities of the methanol extracts of C. longa and V. album. Results indicated that the micro and macro mineral
analysis exhibited significant presence of Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca and Mg while Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr were present in
minute quantities. Phytochemical screening unravelled the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, steroids,
phenols, tannins, saponins and flavonoids that were also proved by the quantitative analysis. There was a high
correlation between the flavonoid content and antioxidant activities of the plant extracts. The antioxidant
activities of the extracts were found to be concentration dependent. The results suggest that both plant extracts
have good medicinal potentials and can serves as good sources of macro minerals.