EVALUATION OF THE ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIALS OF Vernonia amygdalina (BITTER LEAVES)

Abstract

Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) is a widely used medicinal plant in Africa, traditionally valued for its therapeutic benefits, including the management of oxidative stress-related conditions. This study investigated the antioxidant potentials of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays. Fresh bitter leaves were collected, authenticated, dried, pulverized, and extracted with methanol using cold maceration. The antioxidant activity was evaluated at concentrations of 10–50 μg/ml, and the inhibitory concentration 50 (IC₅₀) and effective concentration 50 (EC₅₀) values were determined from inhibition–concentration curves. The results showed that bitter leaf extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with a low IC₅₀ value of 8.13 μg/ml in the DPPH assay, indicating high free radical scavenging ability. The extract also demonstrated a moderate EC₅₀ value of 24.31 μg/ml in the FRAP assay, suggesting moderate reducing power. These findings suggest that Vernonia amygdalina may be a valuable source of natural antioxidants, with potential applications in the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases. The study highlights the need for further research into the bioactive compounds and mechanisms underlying the antioxidant properties of bitter leaf.