Comparative Studies of Abts and Reducing Power in Avocado Pear Leaves Extracted With Different Solvents

This study investigated the ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing power of Avocado pear (Persea americana) leaves extracted using three solvents (water, methanol and ethanol). Fresh leaves of avocado pear were obtained from Ekpoma, Edo State. The leaves were cleaned, air dried under shade at room temperature for fourteen (14) days and then milled into powder. The leaves were extracted using distilled water, methanol and ethanol by soaking 50g of the leaf powder in 200ml of the respective solvent for 48 hours before the content was filtered using a muslin cloth and the filtrate was concentrated by air drying. The result shows that ABTS radical scavenging activity ranged from 0.05 ± 0.00 mg TE/g recorded in aqueous extract to 0.09 ± 0.00 mg TE/g observed in ethanol extract. The reducing power ranged from 0.03 ± 0.00 mg AAE/g recorded in aqueous extract to 0.06 ± 0.00 mg AA/g recorded in methanol extract. The values of ABTS scavenging activity and reducing power differed significantly (p < 0.05) across all plant extracts. This study reveals that the leaves of P. americana possess antioxidant activity. This antioxidant activity varies significantly (p < 0.05) with the type of solvent used in the extraction process. Consequently, much consideration should be given to the choice of solvent for extracting P. americana leaves as it significantly (p < 0.05) impacts on the antioxidant activity of the leaf extracts.