Antioxidant Activity of the Methanolic Extract of the Stem of Annona Squamosa (sugar Apple)

Annona squamosa Linn, from the family of Annonaceae, originated from the West Indians and South America. It is an evergreen plant mainly located in tropical and subtropical regions. It is mainly grown in gardens for its fruits and ornamental value. It is commonly known as custard apple, sugar apple, or sweet apple. Antioxidant are substances or molecules that can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to cells caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells and cause disease, so antioxidant are important for maintaining good health. The aim of this study is to evaluate the total flavonoid content and phenolic content of the stem extract of Annona squamosa (Sweet apple) as well as its antioxidant potential. The total flavonoid content (TFC) of the plant stem was determined using aluminum chloride method and the total phenolic content (TPC) of the plant stem are determined using Folin-Ciocalteu’s method. The antioxidant activity of methanol stem extract was investigated using DPPH assay. The flavonoid content was found to be the highest in the Annona squamosa methanol stem extract compared to the phenolic content. The flavonoid content in the Annona squamosa methanol stem extract is 431.7±1.41 µg QE/mg of the dry plant. The phenolic content in the Annona squamosa methanol stem extract is 20.8±4.11 µg QE/mg of the dry plant. The IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) values for vitamin C and the Annona squamosa extract were 251.5 and 49.2 µg/ml, respectively. The Annona squamosa stem extract found in Nigeria (Kaduna North) contains a considerable amount of phytochemicals and has antioxidant properties which forms the basis for the use of the stem in ethno-medicine.