ABSTRACT
Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) is commonly known as baobab tree native to Africa. Baobab is a multi-purpose tree which offers protection and provides food, clothing and medicine as well as raw material for many useful items. This study aims to elucidate the metal chelating and ferric reducing potentials of methanol extracts of Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) leaf using in vitro model. Phytochemical screening was carried out on the extract and it showed that the extract contains saponins, flavonoids, reducing sugar, alkaloids, , glycosides and phenolics. It was also observed that the extract has an excellent ability to chelate ferrous ion. It could be safely concluded that the evaluation observed in the extract might be as a result of its constituents. The methanolic extract of Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) leaf can be used as a source of natural antioxidants and as a possible food supplement in pharmaceutical industry. The free radical scavenging potentials of this plant probably contribute to the effectiveness of the plant as a medicinal plant. The secondary metabolites in the plant have been found to be of medicinal importance both in preventive and curative medicine
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Objective of the Study
1.3 Limitation of Study
1.4 Statement of Problem
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 Origin and Description of Adansonia digitata
2.2 Scientific Classification of Adansonia digitata
2.3 Botanical Description of Adansonia digitata
2.4 Traditional Medicinal Uses of Adansonia digitata
2.5 Chelation
2.6 Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIAL AND METHOD
3.1 Materials
3.2 Instrument
3.3 Chemicals and Reagents
3.4 Plant Collection, Identification and Authentication
3.5 Extraction of the Plant Material
3.6 Phytochemical Screening
3.7 Ferric Reducing Potentials
3.8 Evaluation of Metal Chelating
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Phytochemical Screening
4.2 Results for Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power
4.3 Results for Metal Chelating
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Recommendation
References
