ABSTRACT
Antioxidants are compounds that counteract free radicals hence preventing oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is the imbalance between the production of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) and the enzymatic antioxidant defense systems which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases which includes cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and cancer. These antioxidants can be found in plant food; the use of medicinal plants with antioxidant properties have been utilised for their ability to treat or prevent various human diseases that involves oxidative stress as one of its causes.
Azanza garckeana is a multipurpose fruit plant found in tropical Africa. In Northern Nigeria, various parts of the plants have been reported to be widely used by locals in the treatment of several kinds of diseases which includes cough, sexually transmitted infections, infertility, liver problems and so on.
This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of ethanol leaf extract of Azanza garckeana on antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Fresh Azanza garckeana leaves were collected from Tula in Kaltungo Local Government Area, Gombe state, Nigeria. The leaves were cleaned, air-dried, pulverised and macerated in ethanol for extraction. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and FRAP assays and the result of this study showed that the ethanol leaf extract showed poor FRAP capacity when compared with ascorbic acid. However, the DPPH scavenging activity was higher in some of the ethanol leaves samples. The antibacterial activity of the ethanol leaf extract was carried out using agar dilution assay and microdilution assay to test various bacteria which includes Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp, Klebsiella spp, Proteus mirabilis, the result of this study showed that the ethanol leaf extract of Azanza garckeana was most potent against Streptococcus spp, Klebsiella spp and P. mirabilis had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration. Azanza garckeana leaves extracts exhibited better antibacaterial activities.
