Journal of Applied Life Sciences International

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the antioxidative properties of the mistletoe plant obtained from three different host species namely Psidium guajava, Vernonia amygdalina and Moringa olifera lam.

Study Design: Experimental Design

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria.

Methodology: Crude methanolic leaf extracts were studied for their antioxidative properties; Iron reducing and Iron-chelating activities, Nitric oxide (NO) radical and 2,2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities and the lipid peroxidation and thiobarbituric acid reaction (TBAR) methods. One way ANOVA was used for the result analysis with P<.05 for significant difference.

Results: Mistletoes from Psidum guajava (MSPG) had significantly higher reducing property (0.16 – 0.20mg/mL); the chelating property of Mistletoes from Moringa olifera (MSMO) was significantly lower (45.7 – 58.9%); DPPH radical scavenging activity had no significant difference; and Nitric oxide scavenging activity was significantly higher in MSPG (72.1% in 75mg/mL) than the extracts from other hosts. MSPG had significantly higher TBAR inhibition using both FeSO₄ (77.8% at 125µg/mL) and Sodium nitroprusside (61.6+1.0% at 125µg/mL) with an IC₅₀ of 30.27µg/mL . Extract of Tapinanthus globiferus leaves from Psidium guajava had more antioxidative activities in the TBARs followed by Tapinanthus globiferus leaf extract from Vernonia amygdalina (MSVA).

Conclusion: From the study, mistletoes from Psidium guajava had higher antioxidant activity compared to other hosts, which probably justifies its use for treatment of cancer in traditional medicinal practice.