Comparative Antioxidant and in-vivo Toxicological Studies of Selected Spices as Antioxidant Supplements in Kaduna. Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Natural antioxidants are increasingly gaining attention as potential preventive and therapeutic agent. This research is aimed at comparing the individual antioxidant properties of six selected spices using three different standard methods. The fresh leafy one (Ocimum gratissimum will be collected from gardens in Barnawa area of Kaduna, fresh Parkia biglobosa, Allium cepa and Allium sativum will be purchased from the central market and sun-dried while the dry seeds of Cuminum cyminum and Xylopia aethiopica will be purchased and processed.  Standard Folin-Ciocalteau method will be adopted to determine their Total Phenolic Content (TPC), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl for the Radical Scavenging Activities (RSA) and Phosphomolybdate assay for Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) of all spices after extraction with aqueous methanol. Acute toxicity of all extracts will be carried out to determine the lethal dose of the spices according to Lorke’s method. The results obtained from the antioxidant analysis will give rise to a spice-food supplement, rich in antioxidants to help combat the rising cases of degenerating disease while the toxicity study will serve as a guide for prescribed usage while benefitting from its medicinal properties