Antioxidants are chemicals that possess bioactive constituents which usually allow them to fight against free radicals. Antioxidant and phytochemicals properties of the leaves of Synsepalum dulcificum were investigated using ethyl-acetate, ethanol and methanol extracts. 2, 2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total flavonoid and the total phenolic content was carried out. The phytochemical screening assay was done on the following: Alkaloids, saponin, flavonoids, tannin, anthraquinones, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and phlobatannin using the test solvent extracts. The results gotten for antioxidant revealed that methanol gave the highest extract yield (17.4%) while ethyl-acetate extract had the least yield (5.0%). At 250 μg/ml extract concentration, the methanolic extract gave the highest amount with the IC50 values (89.94 μg/ml), followed by ethanol extract (68.20 μg/ml)) while ethyl acetate extract had the least scavenging activity of (39.21 μg/ml), and these were significantly different (P<0.05). Total antioxidant activity (ascorbic acid equivalent) at 250 μg/ml of S. dulcificum ranged from 41.7 AAE in ethyl-acetate extract to 58.98 AAE in methanol extract. Furthermore, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the leaf extracts revealed that at 250 μg/ml extract concentration, methanol extract had the highest (0.29μmolFe2+/g) reduction potential, followed by ethanol extract (0.28μmolFe2+/g) and ethyl-acetate extract (0.26μmolFe2+/g). The total phenolic content of the extracts ranged from 0.02μg/ml TAE–0.09μg/ml TAE at 1000μg/ml extract concentration while the total flavonoid content ranged from 0.32mg/g QE in ethyl-acetate extract to 14.38mg/g QE in methanol extract. This study suggests that S. dulcificum extract exhibit great potential antioxidant ability that could fight against oxidative stress.

Underutilized species is referred to species to which little or no attention is paid by the policymakers, agricultural researchers, and plant breeders. Medicinal plants used in traditional medicine have a natural origin, are effective, and less expensive. Traditional doctors in African countries make use of plants in treating millions of people. Albizia zygia, Alstonia boonei, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Newbouldia laevis and Canarium schweinfurthii are the underutilized indigenous timber trees with high medicinal value that were discussed. Different parts of these trees like the bark, root, leaves, flower, stem, gum are used as medication in treating diverse diseases such as painful urination, epilepsy, convulsion etc. This study aims at reviewing the underutilized indigenous timber trees with high medicinal values, their challenges, and prospects. Methods are derived to increase the value chain of underutilized timber trees which can contribute to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and other stakeholders mainly through income generation.