International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume V, Issue V, May 2020 | ISSN 2454-6194

Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of the Leaves Extract of Nymphaea Lotus

Abdulrahman Mahmud1, Hussain Umar Gende1, Sha’aban Sallau2, Yushau Salim3, Abubakar Abbas1, Abubakar Muhammad Zango2 & Sham’unu Aliyu Isma’il1
1Department of Chemistry, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria
2Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Bayero University, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria
3Department of Chemistry, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract:- Nymphaea lotus, Commonly known as white water lily (English) or Bado (Hausa), belongs to the family Nymphaea-ceace. It is used in traditional medicine as an aphrodisiac, anodyne, astringent, cardiotonic, sedative, demulcent, analgesic and as anti-inflammatory agents. The present study, therefore is aimed at evaluating the chemical components of the plant as well as the antioxidant properties of its ethanolic, ethylacetate, chloroformic, petroleum ether and water extracts. The fresh leaves of Nymphaea lotus was collected from Bauchi LGA, Bauchi State and authenticated in the Department of Biological Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. The fine powdered sample (200g) was macerized until crude extracts was obtained. This was then concentrated in a rotary evaporator at 40°C to give a crude ethanol fraction (CF). Extraction yield was also determined (13.2 % recovery). Partition of the crude ethanol fractor was performed further with slight modifications. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the plants extracts was performed using standard procedures. The results showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, saponins, terpenes and steroids. The presence of one secondary metabolite in one solvent extract and the absence in another solvent extract might be due to difference in solvent polarity which agrees with the rule of thumb ‘like dissolves like’. The antioxidants activity of the samples was determined using Reducing Power Assay. The reduction power of ethanol , petroleum ether , chloroform , ethyl acetate , and aqueous extracts of Nymphaea lotus leaf were expressed based on IC50 values and the result range from 86.60 ± 0.05 µg/cm3 (IP = 11.57 ± 0.05) to 248.92 ± 0.43 µg/cm3 (IP = 4.77 ± 0.55). Ethyl acetate extract has the lowest value of IC50 (86.60 ± 0.05 at 20 µg/cm3) while petroleum ether has the highest value of IC50. (248.92 ± 0.43µg/cm3. The lower the value of IC50 (higher IP ), the better the antioxidant activity. The result showed that ethyl acetate has the highest antioxidant activity (lower value of IC50) followed by aqueous extracts and ethanol extract as the lowest. Although, ethyl acetate has the lowest polarity index, it has higher molecular weight compared to ethanol and water. It has been noted that the higher the molecular weight of the solvent the lower the polarity which allows other substances of about the same molecular weight to be easily extracted. However the activity of the extracts was found to be less when compared to the standard (ascorbic acid). IC50 value for standard was found to be 34.62 ± 9.39 µg/cm3 at 20 µg/cm3.
Keywords: Nymphaea Lotus, Antioxidants, IC50, Polarity index, Reduction potential, Ascorbic acid

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