Phytochemical constituents, nutritional composition, <i>in vitro</i> antioxidant capacity and toxicological assessment of <i>Dennettia tripetala</i> leaves

Dennettia tripetala (DT) leaves have been utilized in traditional medicine for managing feverish conditions, asthma, toothache, nasal congestion, diarrhea and rheumatism. This study evaluated the phytochemical, nutritional composition, in vitro antioxidant capacity and toxicological aspects of the leaves. Fresh DT leaves were air-dried and blended into powder. Five hundred grams of the powder was macerated in methanol for 72 hours with intermittent stirring. This was then sieved and filtrate, concentrated with a rotary evaporator at 40ºC to obtain the crude extract. Nutritional composition, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical content, GC-MS, HPLC, in vitro antioxidant capacity and acute toxicity testing were done in accordance with standard methods. Results of this study reveal significant amounts of nutrients, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, fibre and ash, with low moisture content. Bioactive compounds present were squalene, neophytadiene, narigenin, cetene, octadecane, nonadecane, while phytochemicals like flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, terpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, tannins, reducing sugars, phenolics, hydrocarbons, and fatty acids were also present. Also, DT demonstrated strong antioxidant activity by effectively scavenging DPPH radical. Toxicity testing showed an LD50 value of more than 5,000 mg/kg body weight. These findings provide scientific proof for the use of DT leaves in traditional medicine.