International Journal of Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Research

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of a wide range of chronic diseases, which include cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, Diabetes mellitus, and various cancers. Plant-derived natural antioxidants from medicinal plants have received increasing attention recently as result of their relative safety, affordability, and widespread availability, especially in biodiversity-rich areas like Nigeria where ethnomedicinal plants are abundant. This research offers a comparative analysis of five medicinal plants from Nigeria: Piper guineense, Bridelia ferruginea, Nauclea diderrichii, Ziziphus spina-christi, and Caesalpinia pulcherrima, with focus on their phytochemical profiles, specifically total flavonoid and phenolic content, as well as their in vitro antioxidant activities, which were assessed using DPPH and FRAP assays. The analysis revealed marked interspecies variation: plants with higher phenolic and flavonoid contents demonstrated stronger ferric-reducing and radical-scavenging abilities. Bridelia ferruginea demonstrated an exceptional total phenolic content (~347.8 mg GAE/g extract) and a very potent DPPH scavenging action (LC₅₀ ≈ 11.46 µg/mL). Correlation analysis confirmed a robust positive relationship between phytochemical abundance and antioxidant efficacy (r ≈ 0.8, p < 0.01). Overall, these results emphasize the promising antioxidant potential of these medicinal plants and identify key candidates for further study that includes chemical separation, bioavailability assessment, and in vivo validation.

Nigerian medicinal plants; phytochemicals; total phenolic content; total flavonoid content; antioxidant activity; 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH); Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)

1. Akhigbe, R., & Ajayi, A. (2021). The impact of reactive oxygen species in the development of cardiometabolic disorders: a review. Lipids in Health and Disease, 20 (1), 23.
2. Bhatia K., Elmarakby, A.A., El-Remessy, A.B., & Sullivan J.C. (2012). Oxidative stress contributes to sex differences in angiotensin II-mediated hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats. American Journal of  Physiology- Regulatory,  Integrative and  Comparative Physiology, 302, R274–R282. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00546.2011. 
3. Legendre, F., MacLean, A., Tharmalingam, S., & Appanna, V. D. (2022). A metabolic network mediating the cycling of succinate, a product of ROS detoxification into α-ketoglutarate, an antioxidant. Antioxidants, 11 (3), 560.
4. Ghasemzadeh, A., & Ghasemzadeh, N. (2011). Flavonoids and phenolic acids: Role and biochemical activity in plants and human. Journal of  Medicinal Plants Research, 5(31):6697-6703.
5. Kumar, S., & Pandey, A.K. (2013). Chemistry and Biological Activities of Flavonoids: An Overview. Sci. World J. 2013, Article ID 162750, 16 pages.
6. Shahidi, F.,  & Ambigaipalan, P. (2015). Phenolics and polyphenolics in foods, beverages and spices: Antioxidant activity and health effects–A review. Journal of functional foods, 18, 820–897.
7. Sharma, S.K., & Singh, L., & Singh, S. (2013). A review on medicinal plants having antioxidant potential. Indian Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biotechnology, 1(3), 404–409. 
8. Abdelnabi, H., & Mohsin, S.(2025). Phytochemicals in Bone Therapy: Exploring Natural Alternatives for Bone Health. International Journal of Nanomedicine,  10831–10855.
9. Lawal, I. O.,  Rafiu, B. O.,  Ale, J. E., Majebi, O. E., &  Aremu, A. O.(2022).Ethnobotanical survey of local flora used for medicinal purposes among indigenous people in five areas in Lagos State, Nigeria. Plants, 11 (5), 633.
10. Abdulrahman, M.D., Zakariya, A.M., Hama, H.A., Hamad, S.W., Al-Rawi, S.S., Bradosty, S.W., (2022). Ethnopharmacology, biological evaluation, and chemical composition of Ziziphus spina-christi(L).Desf.:A review. Advances in Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Science, 2022:4495688. Doi:10.1155/2022/4495688
11. Elmaidomy, A.H., El Zawily, A., Salem, A.K., Altemani, F.H., Algehainy, N.A., & Altemani,A.H.(2023). New cytotoxic dammarane type saponins from Ziziphus spina-christi. Science Reports, 13: 26612. Doi:10.1038/s41598-023-468441-2
12. Bahtiar, A., Vichitphan, K., & Han, J. (2017). Leguminous plants in the Indonesian archipelago: Traditional uses and secondary metabolites. Natural Product Communications, 12, 461–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578x1701200338 
13. Erharuyi, O., Imieje, V.O., Oseghale, I.O.,  Ubhenin, A.E.,  Falodun, A.B., & Choudhary, M.I. (2017). Identification of Compounds and Insecticidal Activity of the Root of Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia Pulcherrima L). Journal of Applied Science and Environmental Management, 21, 281. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v21i2.8 
14. Fajobi, O. A., Fasakin, O. W., & Oyedapo, O. O. (2017). Phytochemicals, antioxidant potentials and 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of Piper guineense (Schumach & Thonn) seed. African Journal of Plant Science, 11(4), 99-104
15. De LaTorres, J.E., Gassara, F., Kouassi, A.P., Brar, S.K., & Belkacemi, K. (2015). Spice Use in Food: Properties and Benefits. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Pp. 373-394.
16. Romain H, Marine P, Basile P, Maxine R, Gremain ST, Ahcene B, Benjamin B. 2017. Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of African Nauclea diderrichii species. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 212: 106–136. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.10.011
17. Mbiantcha M, Djami MB, Ateufack G, Atsamo DA, Tsafack GE, Yousseu WN, Djuichou FSN, Matah VMM, Kenmogue LK, Adjouzem FC, Ndjoya LFZ, Tiokeng GL. 2020. Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties of aqueous extract of Nauclea diderrichii (Rubiaceae) stem bark in rats. Advances in Traditional  Medicine (ADTM), 20: 199–212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-020-00446-6
18. Adebayo, E.B., & Ishola, O.R. (2009). Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of the crude extracts from the root, stem bark and leaves of Bridelia ferruginea. African Journal of Biotechnology, 8:650-653
19. Awodele, O., (2015). Toxicological evaluation of the aqueous stem bark extract Bridelia ferruginea (Euphorbiaceae) in rodents
20. Sidiq, L. O., Segun, P. A., & Ogbole, O. O. (2018). Total Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activity of Nine Medicinal Plants used in Nigerian Traditional Medicine: doi. org/10.26538/tjnpr/v2i9. 6. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research (TJNPR) 2 (9), 438–441.
21. Harborne, A.( 1998). Phytochemical methods a guide to modern techniques of plant analysis; springer science & business media.
22. Mbiantcha M, Djami MB, Ateufack G, Atsamo DA, Tsafack GE, Yousseu WN, Djuichou FSN, Matah VMM, Kenmogue LK, Adjouzem FC, Ndjoya LFZ, Tiokeng GL. 2020. Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties of aqueous extract of Nauclea diderrichii (Rubiaceae) stem bark in rats. Advances in Traditional Medicine (ADTM), 20: 199–212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-020-00446-6
23. Erharuyi, O., Imieje, V.O.,  Oseghale, I.O.,  Ubhenin, A.E.,  Falodun, A.B., &  Choudhary, M.I (2017). Identification of Compounds and Insecticidal Activity of the Root of Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia Pulcherrima L). Journal Applied Sciences and Environment Management, 21, 281. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v21i2.8 
24. Dlamini, L.M., Tata, C.M., Djuidje, M.C.F., Ikhile, M.I., Nikolova, G.D., Karamalakova, Y.D., Gadjeva, V.G., Zheleva, A.M.,  Njobeh, P.B., & Ndinteh, D.T (2019).Antioxidant and prooxidant effects of Piptadeniastrum africanum as the possible rationale behind its broad scale application in African ethnomedicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 231, 429-437. 
25. Ghasemzadeh A, Ghasemzadeh N (2011). Flavonoids and phenolic acids: Role and biochemical activity in plants and human. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 5(31):6697-6703.
26. Agbo, M. O.,  Uzor, P. F.,  Nneji, U. N. A.,  Odurukwe, C. U. E.,  Ogbatue, U. B., &  Mbaoji, E. C. (2015). Antioxidant, total phenolic and flavonoid content of selected Nigerian medicinal plants. Dhaka University Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 14 (1), 35–41.
27. Akinpelu, B.A., Dare, C.A., Adebesin, F.I.,  Iwalewa, E.O., &  Oyedapo, O.O. (2012). Effect of stem - bark of Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perri.) saponin on fresh water snail (Lanistes lybicus) tissues. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 6(11):446-451.
28. Ali, S.S.,  Kasoju, N.,  Luthra A.,  Singh, A.,  Sharanabasava, H., Sahuand, A., 7  Bora, U. (2008). Indian medicinal herbs as source of antioxidants. Food Research International, 41:1-15.
29. Yadav, R.N.S., & Agarwala, M. (2011). Phytochemical analysis of some medicinal plants. Journal of  Phytological Research,  3(12):10-14.
30. Ekpo, I.A.,  Osuagwu, A.N.,  Agbor, R.B., Okpako, E.C., & Ekanem, B.E. (2013). Phytochemical composition of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guineense seeds. Journal Current Research in Science, 1(1):24-27.
31. Duraikannu D, Chandrasekaran SD, Selvakumar JN, Vaithilingam M (2014). A preliminary study of in vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Streptomyces gancidius VITSD1 isolated from Marine soil. Currrent Bioactive Compound, 10:292-297.
32. Poongothai, A.,  Sreena, K.P.,  Sreejith K.,  Uthiralingam, M., &  Annapoorani, S. (2011). Preliminary phytochemicals screening of Ficus racemosa linn. bark. International Journal Pharma Bio Science 2(2):431-434.
33. Oyemitan, I.A.,  Kolawole F., &  Oyedeji A.O. (2014). Acute toxicity, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil of fresh fruits of Piper guineense, Schum & Thonn (Piperaceae) in rodents. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 8(40):1191-1197.