Evaluation of antioxidant activity and vitamin E profile of some selected indigenous vegetables in Nigerian diet

Abstract

Freeze-dried leaves of some selected vegetables (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Talinum fruticosum and Solanum macrocarpon) were examined for antioxidant activity and analysed for vitamin E profile, using Ferric-ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. Total phenolic content (TPC) was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu method, and vitamin E profile was determined by HPLC analysis. Based on dry weight of the vegetables, C. aconitifolius had the highest antioxidant activity (122 μ mole Trolox equivalent/g dry wt), followed by S. macrocarpon (115.2 μmole TE/g dry wt) and T. fruticosum (78.14 μmole TE/g dry wt). Total phenolic content ranged from 349.2 to 1247.6 mg GAE/g dry wt for T. fruticosum, S. macrocarpon and C. aconitifolius, respectively. Vitamin E profile (tocopherol & tocotrienols) was significantly higher in C. aconitifolius (