Comparative Studies on the Phytochemical Composition, Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activities of Methanol Leaf Extracts of Spondias mombin and Polyathia longifolia

Spondias mombin and Polyathia longifolia leaves are popular choices in traditional herbal medicine practice. P. longifolia leaf extracts have not enjoyed profound investigation as more attention is paid to its stem bark and roots. The present study, therefore, evaluates the phytochemical constituents, the phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of the methanol leaf extract of P. longifolia and draws comparisons with Spondias mombin leaf extracts. Results from the phytochemical screening test on S. mombin extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids and terpenoids. P. longifolia extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and reducing sugars. The S. mombin extract had significantly higher total phenol content, while the total flavoniod and proanthocyanidin content were significantly higher in the P. longifolia extract. The S. mombin extract had better antioxidant activities as evidenced by the lower IC50 values for DPPH radical scavenging, a higher FRAP value and a higher inhibition of lipid peroxidation in vitro. The results suggest that the extracts of S. mombin and P. longifolia leaves possess moderate antioxidant activities, which may be of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical importance.