A comparative analysis of the secondary metabolites, polyphenol contents and antioxidant potential of ethanolic, hydro-ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Annona muricata Linn leaves in Abomey-Calavi, Benin

Annona muricata Linn commonly called corossol in BENIN is a plant of the family of Annonaceae known throughout the world through its virtues in traditional medicine. This study aimed to compare the phytochemical composition and the antioxidant activity between ethanolic, hydro-ethanolic, and aqueous extracts of Annona muricata leaves collected in Abomey-Calavi, Benin. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical tests were used to detect the presence of bioactive molecules. Antioxidant activity was performed using the DPPH method and the FRAP reducing power method. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins (catechic and gallic), alkaloid, anthocyanin, leuco anthocyanins, triterpenoids, steroids, mucilage, reducing compounds and coumarins in all three extracts. The ethanolic extract showed a higher antioxidant potential (IC50= 0.01mg/ml) than the hydro-ethanolic (IC50= 0.013mg/ml) and aqueous extracts (IC50= 0.014mg/ml) by the DDPH method. The ethanolic extract showed a higher reducing power than the aqueous extract and the hydro-ethanolic by the FRAP test. This confirms the agreement in the results. However, the ethanolic extract of Annona muricata is less active than ascorbic acid, which is a reference antioxidant.