Investigation of the Phytochemistry and Antioxidant Activity of Pterocarpus angolensis (Mubvamaropa) from Mupandawana

Abstract

The present study investigated the phytochemistry and antioxidant activity of Pterocarpus angolensis (Mubvamaropa) from Mupandawana. Pt. angolensis has numerous medicinal uses. The bark, sap, leaves and roots are all used to treat different ailments. The sap is used to stop nose bleeds, treatment of ulcers and kill ringworms. Several studies have supported the use of the tree’s sap to treat cataracts, malaria as well as skin inflammations. Pterocarpus angolensis bark was collected from Gutu, Masvingo province and authenticated by a plant taxonomist at the Zimbabwe National herbarium (Mr Chapano). The bark was cleaned using distilled water and oven dried at 40°C for 4 hours to constant weight. Size reduction was achieved using a Thomas-Wiley laboratory mill model with a 2 mm sieve mesh. The phytochemical analysis revealed that the ethanolic extract had more phyto-constituents than the water extract which only four phyto-constituents present all of which were weakly positive. DPPH scavenging activity was 95.11% at a concentration of 500 μg/mL bark extract, while that of the control, ascorbic acid, was 97.60%. Ascorbic acid had an IC50 value of 4.35 µg/mL while the bark extract had a value of 150.64 µg/mL.