The Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Effects of Extracts of Seeds of Some Neglected Legumes of South-East Nigeria

The antioxidant and free radical scavenging capacity of five legumes namelyMucuna pruriens, Mucuna slonei, Monodora myristica, Mucuna rostrata, Curcubita pepo and Legioneria spherica were assayed. The extracts of the samples were analyzed for chemical compositions, antioxidant vitamins C and E, phytochemicals. These were carried out by different extraction processes. The following assays were equally carried using current methods: free radical scavenging activity using hydroxyl and hydrogen peroxide radicals and peroxidation inhibiting activity through linolenic acid extracting system. Results revealed the presence of bioactive constituents, which include: alkaloids (2.0±0.05 mg/100g); saponins 1.2-5.9 mg/100g; oxalates (0.013 -0.390); cyanogenic glycosides (11.34-21.06 mg/100 g). These legumes contain various levels of phytochemicals, antioxdant vitamins (vit C. from 30.0mg-125.0mg/100g), vitamin E (0.092-2.665mg/100g; in all assays they exhibited high levels of antioxidant, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities. They are equally sources of good quality antioxidants that have gainful uses as food additives, drugs, antimicrobials, colorants, preservative, some of which have been used prophylactically and therapeutically in the management of many human diseases and syndromes.