Phytochemicals and In vitro antioxidants screening of aqueous unripe fruits extract of Musa acuminate

Abdullahi, Zayyanu and Nasiru, Shamsu and Abubakar, Usman and Fakai, Isah Musa and Nwaogu, Jude (2025) Phytochemicals and In vitro antioxidants screening of aqueous unripe fruits extract of Musa acuminate. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 22 (3). pp. 340-351. ISSN 2582-5542

Musa acuminata remains an essential fruit and its consumption has been increased due to its nutritional content and medicinal properties. This study aims at evaluating the phytochemicals constituents and antioxidants properties of aqueous unripe fruits extract of Musa acuminata. The phytochemicals constituents were detected using standard tests methods. The total flavonoids and phenolic contents were determined using folic-ciocalteau method. Free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing power of the extract was evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. The results revealed that the extract contained significant amount of flavonoids (11.37 %), glycosides (9.27 %), alkaloids (7.04 %), tannins (5.88 %), cardiac glycosides (4.61 %), saponins (3.40 %), and steroids (1.07 %). The extract exhibited significant amount of total flavonoids (201.31 mg/g) and total phenolics (452.55 mg/g) content. The extract demonstrated high DPPH free radical scavenging activity of 19.81 %, 32.33 %, 44.81 %, 59.70 %, and 79.54 % at 100 µg/ml, 200 µg/ml, 300 µg/ml, 400 µg/ml, and 500 µg/ml, respectively. The extract showed significant ferric reducing antioxidant power of 221.67 µmol/g, 255.84 µmol/g, 450.96 µmol/g, 543.86 µmol/g, and 681.14 µmol/g at 100 µmol/L, 200 µmol/L, 300 µmol/L, 400 µmol/L, and 500 µmol/L, respectively. The aqueous unripe fruits extract of Musa acuminate contains significant amount of phytochemicals, total flavonoids and phenolic compounds and demonstrated high DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power.