Saudi Journal of Biomedical Research (SJBR)
Volume-3 | Issue-02 | 56-65
Original Research Article
Antioxidant Properties Associated with the Biochemical Changes in the Development of African Pear (Dacryodes edulis) Fruit
Esosa Samuel Uhunmwangho, Ehimwenma Sheena Omoregie
Published : April 17, 2018
Abstract
The antioxidant properties of oil and fruit extracts of Dacryodes edulis
(African pear) from four weeks after anthesis (WAA) to fruit maturation were
assessed in this study. The oils from the fruits were extracted with chloroformmethanol 1:2 (v/v) using standard procedures. The in vitro antioxidant capacity of the
oil extracts was determined by spectrophotometric methods using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-
picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. Results
from the study indicated that DPPH and H2O2 scavenging capacity as well as
percentage inhibition of MDA were significantly (P˂0.05) higher in oil at 20 WAA
(45.47%, 45.1%, 18.3%), but with significant (P˂0.05) lesser percentage of inhibition
at 4-12 WAA. The hepatoprotective effects of the extracts were examined in vivo in
male wistar rats challenged with sodium arsenate. Results showed that the rats fed
with the oil WAA had significant reduction (p<0.05) in lipid peroxidation, increase in
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities especially relative to
control values. African walnut extracts treated rats also showed similar decrease in
serum AST (70.3±2.54U/L), ALT (63.7±2.34U/L±), ALP (59.3±0.60U/L) and GGT
(230.8±1.12U/L) levels at 20 WAA when compared to 4 WAA extracts treated rats,
AST (105.2±1.38U/L), ALT (73.0±1.12U/L), ALP (72.0±2.26U/L) and GGT
(299.7±1.88U/L). The results suggest that the various fruit extracts possess varied
degrees of potent antioxidant activity both in vitro and in vivo and may serve as
important sources of antioxidants in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.