Comparative Evaluation of in vitro Antioxidant Properties of Cajanus cajan Seed and Moringa oleifera Leaf Extracts

Aims: This study was carried out to compare the antioxidant potentials of hydro-methanolic extracts of seed of Cajanus cajan and the leaf of Moringa oleifera. These plants have been associated with alleviating oxidative stress related conditions.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and Covenant University Sango, Ogun state Nigeria, between August 2012 and September, 2012.

Methodology: Different analyses for determining antioxidant potentials were used to compare the antioxidant properties of the plants: hydroxyl radical scavenging test, ascorbic acid value, total polyphenols, total flavonoids content, ferric reducing antioxidant power, 2, 2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6- sulphonic acid (ABTS) scavenging test, 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (lipoprotein).

Results: The total phenolic contents of Cajanus cajan and Moringa oleifera were 83.0 ±0.02 and 541.0 ± 0.02 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram dry weight (mg/GAE/g DW) respectively. Also, the results obtained for total flavonoids in Cajanus cajan and Moringa oleifera were 46.0±.01 and 645.0±0.10 mg pyrocatechol equivalent per gram dry weight respectively. It was observed that Moringa oleifera leaf extract has significantly higher antioxidant potentials than the Cajanus cajan seeds extract (p<.05)

Conclusion: Data suggest that Moringa oleifera leaf extract had higher antioxdant potentials in comparison with that of Cajanus cajan seeds. Further research in determining the benefits of Moringa Oleifera leaf and Cajanus cajan seed extracts due to their antioxidant potential in animal model is therefore recommended.