Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Activity and Inhibitory Potential of Five Kenyan Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate preliminary phytochemical analysis and in vitro antioxidant activities of five plants (Olea europaea, Kigelia africana, Terminalia mollis, Croton macrostachyus and Bridella micrantha extracts). The plants were collected from Baringo County in Kenya, dried, pulverized into fine powders and extracted using methanol. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, aminoacids and proteins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and triterpenoids. The root extracts were further investigated for their potential antioxidant activity by using radical scavenging DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) technique. Methanol extract of roots from the plants showed significant differences in DPPH radical scavenging activities. The results were concluded that extracts have a more secondary metabolites and potential source of antioxidants, which is warranty to evaluate further in vivo pharmacological studies.