10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

The increasing burden of oxidative stress-related diseases and growing concerns over the safety of synthetic antioxidants have renewed interest in indigenous medicinal plants as sustainable sources of therapeutic agents. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of Picralima nitida, a medicinal plant widely used in African traditional medicine. Dried plant material was successively extracted with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water to obtain solvent fractions. Total phenolic content was determined spectrophotometrically, while antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and phosphomolybdenum assays. The dichloromethane fraction exhibited the highest total phenolic content (1.304 ± 0.014), followed by the ethyl acetate (1.243 ± 0.021) and ethanol (1.107 ± 0.003) fractions. The ethanol fraction demonstrated the strongest DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities, recording 85.56 ± 1.71% and 65.07 ± 1.96% inhibition, respectively. The dichloromethane fraction showed the greatest ferric reducing capacity (0.422 ± 0.003) and phosphomolybdenum antioxidant activity (0.353 ± 0.008). These findings demonstrate that medium-polar fractions of P. nitida are rich in antioxidant phytochemicals and possess considerable potential for the development of plant-derived health products. Integrating scientific validation of indigenous medicinal resources with modern analytical techniques supports the objectives of the Fifth Industrial Revolution by promoting evidence-based innovation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable healthcare solutions that can contribute to improved public health and local pharmaceutical development across Africa.