The increasing rise of resistance of malaria parasites to established antimalarial drugs have necessitated the continued search for new drug entities especially those with fresh modes of action. Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a plant with many pharmacological and medicinal properties. The leaf extract and fractions were studied for their antimalarial, ferric reducing antioxidant power and elemental composition.Various fractions of the leaf extracts were obtained using vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC). The in vivo antimalarial activity was evaluated against plasmodium berghei parasites. The required dose was given according to the weight of the animal two hours after inoculation of parasites on D1, then once daily for three more days (D2-D4). The antioxidant activity was carried out using UV-Visible spectrometer at 593 nm. The elemental analysis was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. There was a dose dependent increase in percentage chemo-suppression of the parasites by the different groups with maximum effect at 800 mg/kg (61.57-34.86 % from day five (5)to day eight (8) respectively). The highest FRAP activity was observed in 100% ethyl acetate with 314.90 ± 3.94 mmol, while the lowest antioxidant power was observed in 50% ethyl acetate:50% n-hexane fraction with 48.50 ± 1.10. 90%methanol:10% distilled water fraction did not indicate any FRAP activity. The results obtained revealed that the phytochemicals with very potent antioxidant power are more present in the ethyl acetate fraction. Elemental compositions (ppm) in the powdered leaf of C. pulcherrima were, sodium (Na); 20.27 ± 0.12, iron (Fe); 13.50 ± 0.08, calcium (Ca); 9.0 ± 0.14, and copper (Cu); 0.30 ± 0.08. Lead (Pb) was not detected. This study has shown that Lead concentration was below detectable limit, while the concentrations of Fe and Cu were within established permissible limits. Appreciable amount of Na and Ca were also indicated. C. pulcherrima leaf extract and fractions contain biologically active principles that are relevant antimalarial and antioxidant agents with acceptable mineral compositions.

ABSTRACT:The aqueous extract of Nigerian beverages namely: fortified cocoa powder (Samples; FC A , FC B ,FC C ,FC D ) Pure cocoa powder (PC A , PC B ), coffee (C), ginger (G) and Tea samples (Green, TA, TB) were assayed for total phenols, flavonoids, Vitamin C and radical scavenging abilities using four different in vitro antioxidant assay methods. Coffee contains the highest amount of total phenols (135.71±0.92mg/g) and Vitamin C. (62.90± 2.97mg/g). The highest amounts of flavonoids were found in all the tea samples (10.0± 0.00mg/g). Green tea and coffee had the highest 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical [DPPH] radical scavenging ability. Green tea also had the highest radical scavenging ability as measured by the 2, 2-azino-di-[3-ethylbenzothialozine-sulphonic acid] [ABTS] radical scavenging ability and ferric reducing antioxidant property [FRAP]. (1.04± 0.037mg/g and 1235.88 ± 22.67mmol/g respectively). Cocoa powder (PC A ) had the highest iron II chelating ability (38.46 ± 2.72mg/g). The total phenolic content of the beverages had good correlation with total flavonoids, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP radical scavenging abilities with r values higher than 0.7. Vitamin C assay correlated well with DPPH free radical scavenging ability assay (r = 0.73) while iron (II) chelation ability correlated fairly with vitamin C (r = 0.43). The results suggest that the beverages possess significant radical scavenging ability that may be due to the presence of the antioxidant.