EVALUATION OF AIR-DRIED LEAF OF AFRICAN ALMOND (TERMINALIA CATAPPA) AS A SOURCE OF NATURAL ANTIOXIDANT

Abstract

Terminalia catappa possesses several phyto-constituents associated with its antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. This research was carried out to determine the antioxidant activity of air-dried African Almond leaves by using ascorbic acid as standard, and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) as a free radical. The results of the study showed the notable antioxidant potential of air-dried Almond leaves, as evidenced by their scavenging activity, which ranged from 29.74 % to 75.48 %, exhibiting a dose-dependent relationship, with increased inhibition activity observed at higher extract concentrations from 0.2 mg/ml to 1.0 mg/ml, respectively. The findings of this study show that Almond leaves are a promising natural source of antioxidants, offering a sustainable alternative to the synthetic antioxidants widely used in foods and livestock feeds. Natural antioxidants like those found in Almond leaves are increasingly valued for their safety and potential health benefits, such as reducing the risk of chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress