GC-MS PROFILING, ANTIMICROBIAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ANALYSIS OF THE N-HEXANE EXTRACT OF THE SEEDS OF RAPHIA HOOKERI OBTAINED IN DELTA STATE

Raphia hookeri is widely employed in African traditional medicine for diverse therapeutic purposes; however, its bioactive potential remains inadequately investigated. This study examined the chemical composition of the n-hexane seed extract of Raphia hookeri and assessed its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of terpenoids, phenolic compounds, sterols, and cardiac glycosides. Antioxidant evaluation using the DPPH radical scavenging assay demonstrated notable antioxidant activity, indicating the strong bioactive potential of the seed oil. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Candida krusei. The extract exhibited pronounced antimicrobial efficacy against all tested organisms, with zones of inhibition ranging from 18 to 25 mm. Anti-inflammatory assessment showed a maximum inhibition of 60.15% at a concentration of 500 µg/mL, compared to 89.13% inhibition obtained for diclofenac used as the reference drug. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the extract was determined to be 2.5 mg/mL. These findings provide scientific support for the therapeutic relevance of Raphia hookeri seed oil and highlight its potential application in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial formulations aimed at developing sustainable and affordable health solutions.