Effect of chlorophyll content on the multifunctional properties of Telfairia occidentalis aqueous leaf polyphenolic concentrate

• Chlorophyll-enriched Telfairia occidentalis leaf fraction had strong iron reducing capacity. • The Chlorophyll-enriched fraction exhibited strong total antioxidant capacity. • The Chlorophyll-enriched fraction inhibited amylase, renin, and lipase activities strongly. • The Chlorophyll-reduced fraction was a strong metal ion chelator. The aqueous extract from Telfairia occidentalis (TO) leaves was separated by column chromatography into chlorophyll-enriched (CH-E) and chlorophyll-reduced (CH-R) fractions, and their antioxidant and rate of enzyme inhibition activities compared . The total chlorophyll content of CH-E was 46.22 ± 0.16 mg g -1 when compared to 25.29 ± 0.21 and 37.84 ± 0.21 mg g -1 for CH-R and TO, respectively. The main polyphenols found in TO, CH-E, and CH-R were quercetin O-rutinoside and kaempferol O-rutinoside. In comparison to the CH-R fraction, the CH-E and TO had significantly ( p < 0.05) higher ferric-reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant capacity, and enzyme inhibitory activities against lipase, DPP-IV, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and renin. In contrast, the CH-R had significantly ( p < 0.05) stronger metal chelation activity but similar angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition when compared to CH-E. We conclude that the presence of chlorophyll is a positive contributing factor to enhanced radical scavenging and enzyme inhibitory properties of the leaf extract.