Abstract

The use of various parts of Annona muricata (Sour Sop) in management of diseases cannot be over emphasized. This study considered the cytotoxic potential and antioxidant activity of A. muricata fruit. The crude aqueous extract of A. muricata fruit was screened for bioactive compounds and successively partitioned with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, acetic acid and methanol. The resulting fractions were evaluated for cytotoxicity using brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) and their antioxidant activity was determined using 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging ability. Alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, steroids and carbohydrates were detected in the crude aqueous extract. Cytotoxicity of the ethyl acetate fraction was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the crude extract and all other fractions. However, the antiradical activity of the ethyl acetate fraction in the presence of DPPH or nitric oxide was comparable to acetone fraction of fruit of A. muricata, but significantly (p>0.05) lower than ascorbic acid. These results substantiated the presence of intermediate polar compound(s) with potential biological ability resulting from antiradical and consequential cytotoxic activity.

Keywords

Annona muricata, Brine Shrimp Lethality, Cytotoxicity, Antiradical activity, Ascorbic acid.

Received on 27/05/2020, Accepted on 27/05/2020, Published on 27/05/2020