Antimutagenic Activity of Seeds of Moringa Oleifera,

Abstract

Moringa oleifera has medicinal and nutritional values. This study was aimed at assessing the antimutagenic potential of M. Oleifera seeds. Ethanol was used for the extraction. Chemical analysis was done following standard methods. Antimutagenicity was determined against nitrate treated 1-amino- pyrene in acid solution using the Salmonella assay. Preliminary phytochemical screening of seed extract M. Oleifera revealed tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid, terpenoid, saponin, cardiac glycoside, anthraquinone, and steroid; phlobatanin was not detected. Tannin was found to be in the highest amount (28.2± 0.63) mg/100g, flavonoid (23.21± 0.44) mg/100g, steroid (20.50± 2.15) mg/100g, alkaloid (18.68 ± 2.15) mg/100g and saponin (15.22 ± 0.63) mg/100g. The extract showed a strong percentage inhibition in both strains at higher doses. The observed antimutagenic effect of the seed extract could be adduced to some phytochemical constituents therein.