Comparative Evaluation of In-vitro Antioxidant Capacity of Petroleum-ether Extract of Hibiscus sabdarrifa (Roselle Flower) and Jatropha tanjorensis Leaf

Aims: The comparative evaluation of in vitro antioxidant capacity of petroleum-ether extract of Hibiscus sabdarrifa (Roselle flower) and Jatropha tanjorensis leaf was carried out in this study. Methodology: This was done using various antioxidant assays such as Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power, 2, 2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, Lipid Peroxidation and Nitric Oxide Radical scavenging activity. Standard biochemical methods were used for the analyses. Ascorbic acid served as the standard antioxidant. Results: The result showed a non-significant increase (P >0.05) in the Ferric reducing power capacity and 2, 2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf when compared to Hibiscus sabdarrifa (Roselle flower). There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in free radical scavenging activity of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract when compared to Hibiscus sabdarrifa (Roselle flower). The result also showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation scavenging activities of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf when compared to Hibiscus sabdarrifa (Roselle flower). There was a non-significant (P > 0.05) decrease in Nitric oxide scavenging activities of Hibiscus sabdarrifa (Roselle flower) and Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract when compared to the standard antioxidant L-ascorbic acid. Conclusion: This study showed that although Hibiscus sabdariffa possesses antioxidant capacity, Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract had a higher antioxidant activity.