Antioxidant potential, phytochemicals, and minerals content of the root extract of Physalis angulata

Abstract

The continuous increase in the shift of interest from synthetic drugs to medicinal plants 
source of drugs necessitates the screening of traditional plants (grown in Northeastern 
Nigeria) for their antioxidant potential, phytochemicals, and minerals content. This is an 
attempt to pave way for the scientific identification of plants with proven medicinal val
ues. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the antioxidant potential, phy
tochemicals, and minerals content of the root extract of Physalis angulata, which is a herb 
commonly found even along road sides in the rural areas of northeastern Nigeria. The anti
oxidant potential, phytochemicals, and minerals content were determined using standard 
methods. The results of the qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of 
alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides, and flavonoids. Quantitatively, the amount of 
the aforementioned phytochemicals was found to be 14.96% + 0.86% (alkaloids), 13.79% 
+ 0.04% (terpenoids), 12.78% + 2.4% (saponins), 0.05% + 0.03% (glycosides), and 0.05% 
+ 0.00% (flavonoids). The result of this research also showed that the extract contains 
magnesium (1,101.50 + 2.12 ppm), sodium (407.20 + 0.42 ppm), calcium (76.96 + 0.79 
ppm), zinc (4.95 + 0.07 ppm), potassium (2.05 + 0.07 ppm), manganese (1.84 + 0.05 ppm), 
copper (1.10 + 0.14 ppm), cobalt (0.63 + 0.04 ppm), and selenium (0.20 + 0.01 ppm). 
The result of the in vitro antioxidant activity (AOA) of the terpenoid fraction showed that 
there was a dose-dependent increase in the AOA as the concentration of the terpenoid 
increased from 20 to 1,000 µg/ml. These results suggest that the extract may exert all the 
activities associated with the phytochemicals it contains; it may also serve as a source of 
minerals – which are essential for maintenance and perpetuation of life – found in it; and 
it may also serve as an antioxidant. However, it is suggested that in vivo experiments be 
conducted to test for the activities that the root extract is assumed to possess due to the 
phytoconstituents it contains (as revealed by this research).