EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF Mucana flagellipes.

Mucana flagellipes also known as 'Agbara' leave in Eastern Nigeria is a very strong forest climber that is normally squeezed in water and taken orally to boost the blood level. The study appraises the antioxidant activities of the leave. In addition to the estimation of the total phenol content, total flavonoid content, anthocyanin content and ascorbic acid, the antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by measuring the reducing power and the hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. The leave extract contained 11% flavonoid, 0.00243mg/g anthocyanin, 1.13 %phenol and 46.3% ascorbic acid. For the scavenging assay, the reducing power of the leave and the standard at concentrations of 30mg/m1, 50mg/m1 and 70mg/ml are 94.7%, 110.1% and 120.8%, for the standard 98.6%, 115.0% and 129.4%. For the hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of the leave and standard at concentrations of 30mg/ml, 50mg/ml and 70mg/ml are 13.9%, 15.6% and 19.7% for the standard 9.4%, 15.1% and 17.8%. The presence of these anti-oxidative parameters in the leave extract showed the ability of the leave to prevent free radicals which causes damage or death of cells. The result of this work showed that the leave extract can be utilized as an effective and safe antioxidant source.