Full Length Research Paper

Antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts of mistletoes (Viscum album) from cocoa and cashew trees in Nigeria

Ademiluyi Adedayo Oluwaseun* and Oboh Ganiyu

Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P. M. B 704, Akure, Nigeria 340001.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ademiluyidayo@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: +2348038044248.

Accepted 20 August, 2008

Methanolic extracts of Viscum album leaves from two hosts (cocoa and cashew trees) were subjected to antioxidant assay. V. album from cocoa tree had higher total phenol content (182 mg/100 g) as against that of cashew tree (160 mg/100 g). The result of the study also revealed that the ferric reducing ability, free radical scavenging ability as well as the Fe²⁺ chelation of the extracts were all dose-dependent (0 – 1.0 mg/ml). V. album from cocoa tree had significantly higher ferric reducing and free radical scavenging ability than that from cashew tree, while V. album from cashew tree had significant higher Fe²⁺ chelating ability than V. album from cocoa tree. Although both methanolic extracts showed promise as a good antioxidant source, the total phenol content and the antioxidant capacity pattern of the two extracts suggest host dependency while the possible antioxidant mechanism of action is by reducing ability, free radical scavenging ability and chelation of Fe²⁺, a major catalyst in lipid peroxidation.

Key words: Viscum album, antioxidant, Fe²⁺ chelation, phenolics.