Comparison of phytochemical constituents of ethanol leaf extracts of Solanum macrocarpon and Vernonia amygdalina

Abstract

A plant can exert physiological changes on biological systems due to phytochemicals present in plant parts. This study evaluated and compared the phytochemical constituent (both quantitative and qualitative) and the antioxidant properties of the ethanol leaf extract Solanum macrocarpon L.and Vernonia amygdalina Delile using standard methods. Tannin, phenol, cardiac glycoside, alkaloid, and flavonoid were present in both plant extracts. In large quantities of alkaloid, flavonoid, and cardiac glycoside in S. macrocarpon compared to V. amygdalina. At the same time, V. amygdalina contained a large amount of tannin and phenol. Reducing sugar was present in S. macrocarpon and absent in V. amygdalina; saponin and steroid were present in V. amygdalina and absent in S. marcrocarpon; terpenoid and phlobatanin were both missing in the leaf extract of both plants. In contrast, both plant extracts showed radical scavenging activities, with V. amygdalina having a higher antioxidant capacity than S. macrocarpon. The present study's findings indicated that the ethanol leaf extract of S. macrocarpon and V. amygdalina possess antioxidant properties and may be effective against oxidative stress.