Abstract

Antioxidant agents of plants origin have continued to attract interest because of the potential they hold in the maintenance of human health accompany with their minimal side effects. In this study, the antioxidant activity of the crude methanolic stem bark extract of Afzelia africana was investigated using the scavenging activities on superoxide anions, 2, 2-diphenhyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), Nitric Oxide (NO) and 2, 2’-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS); also the reducing power, as well as the flavonoid, proanthocyanidin and phenolic contents of the extract were determined. The extract exhibited scavenging activities in all radicals tested due to its high phenol and flavonoids contents. This study suggests that A. Africanais a possible source of natural radicals’ scavenger and could serve as a base for future antioxidative diseases drugs.

Key words: Afzelia africana, free radicals scavenging activity, antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, reducing power, crude extract.