Comprehensive Phytochemical and Antioxidant Profiling of Tetrapleura tetraptera Fruit: A Nutritional and Bioactive Potential Assessment from Rivers State, Nigeria

The fruit,Tetrapleura tetraptera belongs to the Mimosaceae family and is widely used in traditional remedies for the treatment of diseases and a popular seasoning spice in southern and Eastern Nigeria. The present study investigated the proximate analysis, phytochemical composition and antioxidant studies of ethanol extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit consumed in Port-Harcourt city, Rivers State. The proximate and phytochemical compositions, including the antioxidant studies of ethanol extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit were determined using standard methods. Proximate composition and calorific value of whole sample of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit revealed that the (%) composition of moisture, ash, lipid, fibre, protein, carbohydrate and caloric value are 17.07, 17.17, 10.10, 5.26, 15.77, 34.62 and 1222.28kj/100g respectively. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit showed that they contain relative amount of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids, amino acids, steroids and coumarins. Glycosides, alkaloids and phenolics were detected in very small concentration in the extract, flavonoids, coumarins, amino acids were found in moderate amounts while saponins, tannins, steroids and terpenoids were detected in very high amount in the extract. The in vitro antioxidant activities (TAC, FRAP and DPPH) of ethanol extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit shows that the plant possessed high scavenging potency towards free radicals. The results of In vitro antioxidant studies; FRAP, DPPH and TAC suggest that Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit protects against lipid peroxidation by donating the radical chain reaction. The results demonstrated the strong antioxidant activities, nutritional and pharmacology potencies of the Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit.