PHYTOCHEMICAL AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ANALYSIS OFETHYLACETATE EXTRACT OF Monodicamyristica SEEDS

ABSTRACT
Excessive production of free radicals causes direct damage to biological molecules such as
DNA,proteins, lipids, carbohydrates leading to tumor development and progression. Natural
antioxidant molecules from phytochemicals of plant origin may directly inhibit either their
production or limit their propagation or destroy them to protect the system. In the present study,
Monodoramyristica a non-timber forest product consumed in Nigeria and some parts of Africa as
spice was screened for its phytochemical composition and free radical scavenging properties. This
study demonstrated that M. myristicaseeds has scavenging properties against DPPH•which vary in
a dose depending manner and with ferric reducing antioxidant power comparable with that of
ButylatedHydroxytoluene (BHT) used as standard. The phytochemical screening result showed
moderate presence of tannins and flavonoids, trace amount of saponnins and steroids while
terpenoids and glycoside were not detected. Finally, the seed extract of M. myristicashowed free
radical scavenging properties which might be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals.