title: Polyphenol composition and antioxidant potential of Hibiscus esculentus L. fruit cultivated in Nigeria.
abstract: Consumption of certain fruits and vegetables is now widely associated with chemoprevention of degenerative diseases like cancer and cardiovacsular disorders because of their antioxidant components. Polyphenols, a heterogeneous group of compounds, are one of these constituents. Hibiscus esculentus L. (Family Malvaceae), commonly referred to as okro, okra, or lady's finger, is an important component of diet in Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In this article, we describe the polyphenol composition and antioxidant potential of H. esculentus of Nigerian origin. Quercetin glucoside (quercetrin) and an unidentified flavonoid were detected. In vitro antioxidant assay of methanol extract of the fruits showed potent antioxidant/radical scavenging activities with 50% inhibitory concentration values of 25 and 43 microL when analyzed by the xanthine oxidase and 2-deoxyguanosine methods, respectively. These data suggest that H. esculentus, popular especially during the rainy season in Nigeria and many tropical West, Central, and Eastern African countries, is a good contributor to the antioxidant status and disease chemoprevention of people in these countries.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Toxicology & Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany. atawodi_se@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Atawodi
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Atawodi
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Idakwo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pfundstein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haubner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wurtele
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spiegelhalder
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Owen
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D031584:Hibiscus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009549:Nigeria; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D059808:Polyphenols
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols