Antioxidant viability and biological activities of compounds identified from ethanol extract of Uvaria chamae (Bush Banana) leaves

Uvaria chamae is an endangered plant species found in sub-Saharan Africa that serves as food, foliage, and an alternative source of medicine in striving nations. The current study researched in-vitro antioxidant activities, anti-inflammatory potentials and identification of biologically active compounds in ethanol extract of Uvaria chamae leaves using standard procedure and methods. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using; Nitric oxide (NO) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity (TOAC), membrane stabilization, albumin denaturing test, and antiproteinase inhibition while biologically active compounds were identified in a Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Phytochemistry findings revealed the presence of phenol, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and steroids. Quantitively, phenol had a concentration of 0.78±0.01 mg/g GAE, alkaloid and tannin had a concentration of 0.81±0.00 mg/g ATE and 0.62±0.02 mg/g TAE, respectively. Flavonoids recorded the highest concentration of 1.28 mg/g CAE. In-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extract increased significantly (p<0.05) with concentration in increasing order. Respective IC50 values of the extract attained lower values (p<0.05) compared to standard activities. GC-MS analysis of the ethanol leave extract revealed bioactive compounds and their derivatives with vast biological activities ranging neuroprotection, neuropsychotropic antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory. The plant is a resource for further investigation, to explore its potential for neuroprotection and neuropsychiatric agents, a function different from its folkloric usage in the management of various ailments.