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Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267 Umuahia, Abia
State, Nigeria
This study is aimed at investigating the phytochemistry, free radical scavenging
activity and antimicrobial properties of Tetrapleura tetraptera seeds. The results of the
analysis of Tetrapleura tetraptera seeds showed the presence of phenols (0.34 %),
flavonoids (0.91 %), alkaloids (0.52 %), tannins (0.23 %) and saponins (0.51 %).
Vitamins include ascorbic acid (5.23 %), riboflavin (0.11 %), niacin (1.25 %), carotenoid (3.40 %) and thiamine (0.06 %). Proximate compositions were moisture
(14.73 %), ash (7.30 %), crude protein (17.36 %), crude fibre (6.68 %) and lipids (35.19
%). Mineral elements were calcium (1.41 %), magnesium (0.48 %), potassium (0.56 %),
sodium (0.21 %), phosphorus (0.32 %), iron (1.20 %), copper (0.13 %) and zinc (0.77 %).
The seed extract showed potent free radical scavenging activity (6.72 22.8 %) using
ascorbic acid as a standard (12.10 - 42.00 %). The seed extract exhibited significant
antimicrobial activity (7.00 20.00 mm) and the zones of inhibition were compared with
that of ciprofloxacin as standard (15.00 28.00 mm). From these investigations, seed
extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera has proven to be considered an excellent source of
nutriceuticals, a potential antioxidant and antimicrobial agents owing to its high level
of phytochemical and vitamin constituents.
Keywords: Tetrapleura tetraptera, Free radical, Antimicrobial, Phytochemicals, Seed extract
INTRODUCTION
Primary and secondary metabolites of plants have
together played an invaluable role to ensure that man
remains healthy. Natural products obtained from
plants are very important in disease control and
treatment which dates back several many years ago.
Till today people still patronize herbal preparations for
certain ailments especially when modern medicine is
considered to have failed to provide a solution.
However, substances obtained from plants which are
secreted by these plants in response to stress or
other factors have been harnessed and mostly used
as drugs and have proven to be efficacious. Most of
these plants are still understudied and underutilized.
Tetrapleura tetraptera is considered one of them.
T. tetraptera belongs to the family Fabaceae
(Gbadamosi and Obogo, 2013). It is commonly found
naturally in the rainforest belt of tropical Africa
Free radical scavenging activity, phytochemistry and antimicrobial properties of Tetrapleura tetraptera Seeds
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Extraction of Oil
Free radical scavenging activity, phytochemistry and antimicrobial properties of Tetrapleura tetraptera Seeds
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Free radical scavenging activity, phytochemistry and antimicrobial properties of Tetrapleura tetraptera Seeds
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Table 1. Phytochemical constituents of T.
tetraptera seeds
Phytochemicals
Phenols
Flavonoids
Alkaloids
Tannins
Saponins
Composition (%)
0.34 0.10
0.91 0.12
0.52 0.08
0.23 0.02
0.51 0.01
Vitamin
Ascorbic acid
Riboflavin
Niacin
-Carotenoid
Thiamine
Composition (%)
5.23 0.21
0.11 0.02
1.25 0.25
3.40 0.64
0.06 0.02
Constituents
Moisture content
Ash content
Crude protein
Crude fibre
Lipids
Composition (%)
14.73 0.34
7.30 0.75
17.36 1.10
6.68 0.71
35.19 0.18
Mineral elements
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Sodium
phosphorus
Iron
Copper
Zinc
Composition (%)
1.41 0.21
0.48 0.02
0.56 0.03
0.21 0.03
0.32 0.05
1.20 0.05
0.13 0.03
0.77 0.04
Free radical scavenging activity, phytochemistry and antimicrobial properties of Tetrapleura tetraptera Seeds
041
Concentration (mg/ml)
4.0
8.0
12.0
16.0
20.0
12.10 0.92
22.00 0.45
25.00 1.75
38.00 0.01
42.00 0.06
6.72 0.54
10.0 0.3
15.5 1.55
18.9 0.08
22.8 0.18
Microorganism
S. aureus
E. coli
P. aeruginosa
C. albicans
A. niger
P. notatum
T. tetraptera (mm)
7.00 1.41
9.00 0.14
15.00 0.80
14.00 0.70
20.00 0.71
16.00 0.90
Ciprofloxacin (mm)
18.00 0.70
24.00 0.28
15.00 0.80
21.00 0.90
23.00 0.70
28.00 0.20
CONCLUSION
From this investigation, the seeds of T. tetraptera are
well endowed with phytochemicals such as alkaloids,
flavonoids, phenols, tannins, and saponins. Vitamins
and mineral elements compositions proved the seeds
to be a good source of materials needed by the body
for sound health. The extract of T. tetraptera seeds
exhibited marked antimicrobial and free radical
scavenging activities which are attributable to the
presence of bioactive phytochemicals in them. T.
tetraptera seeds could find application in food and
flavour industries where they could be used as spices
cum antimicrobial and antioxidant agents.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to Mr. I. K. Ndukwe of Plant
Taxonomy Section, Forestry Department, Michael
Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, for
identifying and authenticating the plant sample.
COMPETING INTERESTS
Authors have declared that no competing interests
exist.
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Atawodi SE, Yakubu OE, Liman ML, Iliemene DU
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Free radical scavenging activity, phytochemistry and antimicrobial properties of Tetrapleura tetraptera Seeds
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Copyright: 2016 Igwe and Akabuike. This is an openaccess article distributed under the terms of the
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Free radical scavenging activity, phytochemistry and antimicrobial properties of Tetrapleura tetraptera Seeds