Abstract
Medicinal herbs have been extensively utilized in the remediation of various health conditions. Dialium guineense fruit pulp, also well known as Velvet Tamarind is widely consumed in West Africa for its dietary and medicinal properties. The study aims to analyze the phytochemical constituents, vitamin content and the in vitro antioxidant effect of Dialium guineense fruit pulp (DGFP). The phytochemical constituents, vitamins (C, E, B1-12) composition, and in vitro antioxidant activity were examined utilizing standardized analytical methods. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of the fruit pulp of Dialium guineense was also carried out; the result indicated the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, phenols, steroids, and cardiac glycosides in varying concentrations. The vitamin composition revealed that vitamin C was higher than other vitamins in the fruit pulp. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and nitric oxide scavenging assay showed high radical scavenging activity while the FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) assay revealed significant reducing power. This indicates that Dialium guineense fruit pulp has potential health benefits.
References
Chaachouay N, Zidane L. Plant-Derived Natural Products: A Source for Drug Discovery and Development. Drugs and Drug Candidates. 2024; 3(1): 184-207. doi: 10.3390/ddc3010011
Akinmoladun AC, Obuotor EM, Farombi EO. Evaluation of Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Capacities of Some Nigerian Indigenous Medicinal Plants. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2010; 13(2): 444-451. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2008.0292
Mierziak J, Kostyn K, Kulma A. Flavonoids as Important Molecules of Plant Interactions with the Environment. Molecules. 2014; 19(10): 16240-16265. doi: 10.3390/molecules191016240
Besong EE, Balogun ME, Djobissie S, et al. Medicinal and economic value of Dialium guineense. African Journal of Biomedical Research. 2046; 19(3): 163-170.
Okudu HO, Umoh EJ, Ojinnaka MC, et al. Nutritional, functional and sensory attributes of jam from velvet tamarind pulp. African Journal of Food Science. 2017; 11(2): 44-49. doi: 10.5897/ajfs2016.1496
Evans WC. Trease and evans. Saunders Elsevier; 2002.
Harborne JB. Phytochemical Methods. Springer Netherlands; 1980.
Sofowora A. Recent trends in research into African medicinal plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1993; 38(2-3): 197-208. doi: 10.1016/0378-8741(93)90017-Y
Pearson D. The chemical analysis of foods. Churchhill Livingstone, London; 1976.
Auta SA, Kumurya AS. Comparative proximate, mineral elements and anti-nutrients composition between Musa sapientum (Banana) and Musa paradisiaca (Plantain) pulp flour. SJBR. 2015; 4(4): 025-030.
Edeoga HO, Okwu DE, Mbaebie BO. Phytochemical constituents of some Nigerian medicinal plants. African Journal of Biotechnology. 2005; 4(7): 685-688. doi: 10.5897/ajb2005.000-3127
Singleton VL, Rossi JA. Colorimetry of Total Phenolics with Phosphomolybdic-Phosphotungstic Acid Reagents. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. 1965; 16(3): 144-158. doi: 10.5344/ajev.1965.16.3.144
Okwu D, & Josiah C. Evaluation of the chemical composition of two Nigerian medicinal plants. African Journal of Biotechnology. 2006; 5(4): 357-361
Molyneux P. The use of the stable free radical diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) for estimating antioxidant activity. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. 2004; 26(2): 211-219.
Abu OD, Onoagbe IO, & Obahiagbon O. Qualitative phytochemical screening and proximate analysis of Dialium guineense stem bark. IAR Journal of Agriculture Research and Life Sciences. 2020; 1(4): 108-112.
Marcocci L, Maguire JJ, Droylefaix MT, et al. The Nitric Oxide-Scavenging Properties of Ginkgo Biloba Extract EGb 761. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1994; 201(2): 748-755. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1994.1764
Zhang W, Lian Y, Li Q, et al. Preventative and Therapeutic Potential of Flavonoids in Peptic Ulcers. Molecules. 2020; 25(20): 4626. doi: 10.3390/molecules25204626
Saleh M, Amro L, Barakat H, et al. Fruit By-Product Processing and Bioactive Compounds. Journal of Food Quality. 2021; 2021: 1-9. doi: 10.1155/2021/5513358
Khameneh B, Eskin NAM, Iranshahy M, et al. Phytochemicals: A Promising Weapon in the Arsenal against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. Antibiotics. 2021; 10(9): 1044. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10091044
Kumar V, Abbas AK, & Aster JC. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2014.
Stryjecka M, Krochmal-Marczak B, Cebulak T, et al. Assessment of Phenolic Acid Content and Antioxidant Properties of the Pulp of Five Pumpkin Species Cultivated in Southeastern Poland. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(10): 8621. doi: 10.3390/ijms24108621
Balasundram N, Sundram K, Samman S. Phenolic compounds in plants and agri-industrial by-products: Antioxidant activity, occurrence, and potential uses. Food Chemistry. 2006; 99(1): 191-203. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.07.042
Oki T, Masuda M, Furuta S, et al. Involvement of Anthocyanins and other Phenolic Compounds in Radical-Scavenging Activity of Purple-Fleshed Sweet Potato Cultivars. Journal of Food Science. 2002; 67(5): 1752-1756. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2002.tb08718.x
Timilsena YP, Phosanam A, Stockmann R. Perspectives on Saponins: Food Functionality and Applications. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(17): 13538. doi: 10.3390/ijms241713538
Güçlü-Üstündağ Ö, Mazza G. Saponins: Properties, Applications and Processing. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2007; 47(3): 231-258. doi: 10.1080/10408390600698197
Borrelli F, & Izzo AA. The plant kingdom as a source of antiulcer remedies. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives. 2000; 14(8): 581-591. doi: 10.1002/1099-1573(200012)14:8<581::AID-PTR776>3.0.CO;2-S
Njeru S, Matasyohb J, Mwanikic C, et al. A Review of some Phytochemicals commonly found in Medicinal Plants. International Journal of Medicinal Plants. 2013; 105(2013): 135-140.
Dangi SY, Jolly CI, Narayanan S. Antihypertensive Activity of the Total Alkaloids from the Leaves of Moringa oleifera. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2002; 40(2): 144-148. doi: 10.1076/phbi.40.2.144.5847
Heinrich M, Mah J, Amirkia V. Alkaloids Used as Medicines: Structural Phytochemistry Meets Biodiversity—An Update and Forward Look. Molecules. 2021; 26(7): 1836. doi: 10.3390/molecules26071836
Jiang W, Tang M, Yang L, et al. Analgesic Alkaloids Derived From Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pain Management. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022; 13. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.851508
Orlowski P, Zmigrodzka M, Tomaszewska E, et al. Tannic acid-modified silver nanoparticles for wound healing: the importance of size. International Journal of Nanomedicine. 2018; 13: 991-1007. doi: 10.2147/ijn.s154797
Cheng C, Liu P, Zhao P, et al. Developing novel oenological tannins from 44 plants sources by assessing astringency and color in model wine. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2022; 103(3): 1499-1513. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.12247
Cressey P, Reeve J. Metabolism of cyanogenic glycosides: A review. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2019; 125: 225-232. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.01.002
Morsy N. Cardiac Glycosides in Medicinal Plants. Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Back to Nature. 2017. doi: 10.5772/65963
Namadina M, Aliyu B, Haruna H, et al. Pharmacognostic and acute toxicity study of Burkea africana root. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management. 2020; 24(4): 565-573. doi: 10.4314/jasem.v24i4.4
Ajiboye AE, Ameen MT, Adedayo MR. Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of the fruit pulp of Dialium guineense (Velvet Tamarind) on some microbial isolates. Journal of Microbiology and Antimicrobials. 2015; 7(4): 33-41. doi: 10.5897/jma2014.0332
Oluwole-Banjo A. (2019). Phytochemical and antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts of pulp, seed, leaf and stem bark of velvet tamarind (Dialium guineense) plant. Journal of Underutilized Legumes. 2019; 1(1): 159-168
Gloria TO, Eze EA, Ifeoma BE. Proximate, phytochemical and micronutrient compositions of Dialium guineense and Napoleona imperialis plant parts. GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2022; 18(3): 193-205. doi: 10.30574/gscbps.2022.18.3.0099
Okerulu I, Onyema C, & Agunabu F. Assessment of the Phytochemicals Proximate and Elemental Composition of the Fruits of Dialium guineese (Icheku). AASCIT Journal of Chemistry. 2015; 2: 93-96.
Nandwani D. Genetic Diversity in Horticultural Plants. Springer International Publishing; 2019.
Tiwari U, Cummins E. Factors influencing levels of phytochemicals in selected fruit and vegetables during pre- and post-harvest food processing operations. Food Research International. 2013; 50(2): 497-506. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2011.09.007
David AA, Olaniyi AT, Mayowa AO, et al. Anti-Vibrio and preliminary phytochemical characteristics of crude methanolic extracts of the leaves of Dialium guineense (Wild). Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 2011; 5(11): 2398-2404.
Najwa R & Azlan A. Comparison of vitamin C content in citrus fruits by titration and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. International Food Research Journal. 2017; 24: 726-733.
Çiftçi S, Suna G. Functional components of peanuts (Arachis Hypogaea L.) and health benefits: A review. Future Foods. 2022; 5: 100140. doi: 10.1016/j.fufo.2022.100140
National Institutes of Health. Vitamin E: A comprehensive overview. National Institutes of Health; 2023.
Awotedu B, & Chukwudebe E. Variations in Vitamin Composition of Four Accessions of Dialium guineense (L.) Fruit Pulp. Current Research in Agricultural Sciences. 2020; 7(1): 31-39. doi: 10.18488/journal.68.2020.71.31.39
Asoiro F, Ezeoha S, Ezenne G, et al. Chemical and mechanical properties of velvet tamarind fruit (Dialium guineense). Nigerian Journal of Technology. 2016; 36(1): 252-260. doi: 10.4314/njt.v36i1.30
Airaodion AI, Ayita EB, Oluba SO, et al. Chemical Composition and Nutraceutical Potential of Velvet Tamarind (Dialium guineense wild) Fruit Pulp. Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. 2021; 8-19. doi: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2021/v9i230211
Ramde-tiendrebeogo A, Bado D, Yoda J, et al. Comparative studies of phytonutrients content and therapeutic potential of fruits parts of Dialium guineense Willd (Fabaceae) and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae) used in traditional pediatric in Burkina Faso. Journal of Applied Biosciences. 2023; 20203-20218. doi: 10.35759/jabs.191.3
Hrubša M, Siatka T, Nejmanová I, et al. Biological Properties of Vitamins of the B-Complex, Part 1: Vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B5. Nutrients. 2022; 14(3): 484. doi: 10.3390/nu14030484
Hanna M, Jaqua E, Nguyen V, et al. B Vitamins: Functions and Uses in Medicine. The Permanente Journal. 2022; 26(2): 89-97. doi: 10.7812/tpp/21.204
Omoregie E, & Osagie A. Antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts of some Nigerian plants on nutritionally-stressed rats. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. 2012; 20(1): 7-2
Foss K, Przybyłowicz KE, Sawicki T. Antioxidant Activity and Profile of Phenolic Compounds in Selected Herbal Plants. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. 2022; 77(3): 383-389. doi: 10.1007/s11130-022-00989-w
Nwozo OS, Effiong EM, Aja PM, et al. Antioxidant, phytochemical, and therapeutic properties of medicinal plants: a review. International Journal of Food Properties. 2023; 26(1): 359-388. doi: 10.1080/10942912.2022.2157425
Ogu G, Joachim E, & Ehiobu J. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Dialium guineense (Willd) leaf extract. Pharmacy and Pharmacology Research. 2013; 1(1): 1-7.
Khan FH, Dervan E, Bhattacharyya DD, et al. The Role of Nitric Oxide in Cancer: Master Regulator or Not? International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020; 21(24): 9393. doi: 10.3390/ijms21249393
Ullah A, Munir S, Badshah SL, et al. Important Flavonoids and Their Role as a Therapeutic Agent. Molecules. 2020; 25(22): 5243. doi: 10.3390/molecules25225243
Wang X, Ma Y, Xu Q, et al. Flavonoids and saponins: What have we got or missed? Phytomedicine. 2023; 109: 154580. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154580
Ogbuewu IP, Modisaojang-Mojanaga MMC, Mokolopi BG, et al. Nutritional and chemical composition of black velvet tamarind (Dialium guineense Willd) and its influence on animal production: A review. Open Agriculture. 2023; 8(1). doi: 10.1515/opag-2022-0174
Danzomo IM, Yunusa A, Adamu AU, et al. Phytochemicals, Mineral Elements and Antioxidants Evaluation of Some Commonly Consumed Desert Fruits. Sahel Journal of Life Sciences FUDMA. 2024; 2(1): 118-131. doi: 10.33003/sajols-2024-0201-014
Aliyu A, Ibrahim M, Musa A, et al. Evaluation of antioxidant activity of leaves extract of Bauhinia rufescens Lam. (Caesalpiniaceae). Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 2009; 3(8): 563-567.