PHYTOCHEMICAL

Polyherbal teas, also known as herb-herb combinations, have been used in Chinese medicine practice, but scientific evidence of their therapeutic benefit is lacking. This study aims to examine the nutritional composition, characterization of some phytochemical constituents, and hepatoprotective activity of a poly-herbal tea formulation comprised of Moringa olifera, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and lemon in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Proximate and mineral compositions were analyzed by the method described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The characterization of some phytochemical constituents was analyzed using HPLC. CCL4 induced hepatotoxicity was used for hepatoprotective activity. The proximate composition of poly-herbal formulated tea indicated carbohydrate (64.66 %), protein (19.25 %), fat (6.35 %), moisture content (6.12 %), ash content (0.24 %) and fibre (3.36%). Mineral compositions present include potassium (1356.0 mg/kg), calcium (821.3 mg/kg), magnesium (380.8 mg/kg), phosphorus (331.4 mg/kg), and iron (221.4 mg/kg).nt). Luteolin, Arbutin, Kaempferol, Apigenin and Quercetin were the most abundant phenolic compound, Quinine was the most abundant alkaloid, Diosgenin and Ergocalciferol were the most abundant steroid, Epigattotechin and Catechin were the most abundant tannins in polyherbal formulated tea. The body weight of animals given 10 mg/kg of the formulated tea extract, 5 mg/kg of the tea extract + CCL4, 10 mg/kg of tea extract + CCL4 and CCL4 without treatment significantly reduced compare to control (*p<0.05) in CCL4-induced nephrotoxicity. There was liver weight reduction in the animals that were given distilled water, 5 mg/kg of the formulated extract, 10mg/kg of the formulated extract, 5 mg/kg of the extract + CCL4, 10 mg/kg of extract + CCL4 when compared with CCL4 without treatment (***p<0.001; *p<0.05). ALP, AST and ALT levels in the animals were reduced by 5 mg/kg of the formulated tea extract, 10 mg/kg of the formulated extract, 5 mg/kg of the extract + CCL4, 10 mg/kg of extract + CCL4 when compared with CCL4 without treatment (**p<0.01; *p<0.05). Superoxide dismutase and catalase values were increased, and the molondialdehyde level was reduced by the formulated tea extract when compared with CCL4 without treatment (****p<0.0001; ***p<0.001; **p<0.01; *p<0.05). Conclusively polyherbal tea formulation (Moringa olifera, garlic, ginger, turmeric and lemon) possesses hepatoprotective activity

Monodora myristica (calabash nutmeg) is a widely used West African spice with traditional medicinal and preservative applications. This study presents a deep evaluation of its phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential. Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that flavonoids were strongly present (Mean ± SEM: 0.8216 ± 0.00072), indicating a high concentration likely responsible for the extract’s potent free-radical scavenging activity. Terpenoids (0.2091 ± 0.2183) and cardiac glycosides (0.5091 ± 0.5136) were moderately detected, suggesting contributions to the spice’s aromatic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cardiotonic properties. Alkaloids (0.2725 ± 0.2734) and steroids (0.1940 ± 0.2560) were present at low to moderate levels, supporting traditional analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and membrane-stabilizing activities. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using a multi-assay approach, including DPPH, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and reducing power (RP), with ascorbic acid as the standard. The extract demonstrated strong, concentration- dependent DPPH scavenging (21.41–87.27%) and progressively enhanced reducing power (76.05–88.12%), reflecting effective hydrogen donation and electron-transfer capacity. NO scavenging was highest at low concentrations (85.45%) but declined at higher doses, while TAC showed moderate and consistent activity (82.99–86.93%). H₂O₂ scavenging remained relatively low (15.35–17.75%), and FRAP displayed a decreasing trend with increasing concentration (82.49% → 25.03%), likely due to matrix interactions affecting iron reduction. Across all assays, ascorbic acid maintained high and stable antioxidant performance (>95%). These findings suggest that Monodora myristica is rich in bioactive phytochemicals with significant antioxidant potential, capable of neutralizing free radicals and supporting cellular redox balance. This study also reinforces the spice’s traditional medicinal relevance and highlights its promise as a natural source of antioxidants for nutraceutical, therapeutic, and food preservation applications.

Azadirachta indica (Dongoyaro) leaves are widely recognized in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which are largely attributed to its diverse phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. However, limited studies have systematically correlated its phytochemical abundance with its antioxidant bioactivity to better explain its therapeutic mechanisms. This research aimed to profile the phytochemical constituents of Azadirachta indica leaves, evaluate their antioxidant properties, and determine how specific phytochemicals contribute to observed antioxidant activity. Fresh Azadirachta indica leaves were subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening to determine the presence and concentrations of major secondary metabolites. Methanolic extracts were analyzed for steroids, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides (Keller–Killiani test), saponins, and terpenoids. Antioxidant activity was assessed using standard in-vitro assays, and statistical correlation was carried out to evaluate the relationship between phytochemical concentrations and antioxidant performance. Quantitative results showed high concentrations of flavonoids (862.21 µg/mL) and cardiac glycosides (527.75 µg/mL), while steroids (282.50 µg/mL) and terpenoids (305.48 µg/mL) were present in moderate amounts. Tannins (77.13 µg/mL) occurred in lower quantities. Antioxidant evaluation revealed strong free-radical scavenging activity, with inhibition values increasing proportionally with the concentration of flavonoids. Correlation analysis identified flavonoids as the major contributors to antioxidant capacity. These findings support the documented antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions of neem (Dongoyaro) leaves, as flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, and glycosides are known to disrupt microbial membranes, modulate inflammatory pathways, and reduce oxidative stress. Overall, this study provides biochemical justification for the therapeutic relevance of Azadirachta indica leaves by establishing a clear relationship between its quantified phytochemicals and antioxidant activity