Annual Research & Review in Biology

Combretum zenkeri is a small tree found in the tropical West Africa that has been applied by locals in the treatment of arthritic and other inflammatory diseases. This study investigated the free radical scavenging activities of ethanolic leaf extract of C. zenkeri against nitric oxide NOË™and hydroxyl OHË™ radicals and reducing power (Fe³⁺–Fe²⁺ transformation ability). Inhibition of lipid peroxidation through determination of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in brain homogenates (neuro-protective potentials) was also studied. The plant extract demonstrated the ability to scavenge nitric oxide and hydroxyl radicals in a dose-response manner. In the reducing power assay, the ethanolic extracts gave the optical density in a logistic dose response curve with the concentration of 581.46 µg/ml at optical density of 0.5. The neuroprotective ability of the plant extract indicated good antioxidant capacity. These results provide basis to regard C. zenkeri as an asset in the quest to ameliorate oxidative diseases with naturally occuring secondary metabolites in plants.