ABSTRACT

Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) is commonly known as baobab tree native to Africa. Baobab is a multi-purpose tree which offers protection and provides food, clothing and medicine as well as raw material for many useful items. This study aims to elucidate the metal chelating and ferric reducing potentials of methanol extracts of Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) leaf using in vitro model. Phytochemical screening was carried out on the extract and it showed that the extract contains saponins, flavonoids, reducing sugar, alkaloids, , glycosides and phenolics. It was also observed that the extract has an excellent ability to chelate ferrous ion. It could be safely concluded that the evaluation observed in the extract might be as a result of its constituents. The methanolic extract of Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) leaf can be used as a source of natural antioxidants and as a possible food supplement in pharmaceutical industry. The free radical scavenging potentials of this plant probably contribute to the effectiveness of the plant as a medicinal plant. The secondary metabolites in the plant have been found to be of medicinal importance both in preventive and curative medicine

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page             

Certification                

Dedication             

Acknowledgement    

Abstract    

Table of Contents     

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

1.2   Objective of the Study    

1.3   Limitation of Study      

1.4   Statement of Problem    

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0   Literature Review       

2.1   Origin and Description of Adansonia digitata       

2.2   Scientific Classification      of Adansonia digitata      

2.3   Botanical Description of Adansonia digitata 

2.4 Traditional Medicinal Uses of Adansonia   digitata     

2.5   Chelation   

2.6   Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power      

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIAL AND METHOD

 3.1   Materials

3.2   Instrument 

3.3   Chemicals and Reagents

3.4   Plant Collection, Identification and Authentication         

3.5   Extraction of the Plant Material

3.6   Phytochemical Screening              

3.7   Ferric Reducing Potentials     

3.8   Evaluation of Metal Chelating  

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1   Phytochemical Screening          

4.2   Results for Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power    

4.3   Results for Metal Chelating       

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1   Conclusion 

5.2   Recommendation  

References