dc.description.abstract | Opuntia ficus-indica has been extensively used over the past several years in traditional herbal
medicine to treat various types of chronic diseases which are on the rise like diabetes mellitus
due to the plant’s supposed protective activities and nutritional values. The leaves of this plant
are the most widely used part in Uganda. However, the leaves of O. ficus-indica hardly bare
any scientific evidence for their claimed healing properties. This study therefore aimed to
evaluate the antioxidant properties and phytochemical composition of the aqueous, ethanolic
and petroleum ether extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica used in the management of diabetes
mellitus. The leaves of O. ficus-indica were purchased from Nakasero market in Kampala
district and transported to the lab where they were cleaned, washed and later used fresh after
extraction. This extraction was done using three solvents namely petroleum ether, distilled
water and aqueous ether. The subsequent extracts were used in the calculation of percentage
extraction yield, determination of phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity. The
phytochemical composition was determined using conventional methods and qualitative
phytochemical methods. The phytochemicals tested included saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids,
phenols, tannins, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids and reducing sugars. Antioxidant activity was
determined using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The study established that aqueous
extract had the highest percentage yield (58.4966%) compared to the ethanolic and petroleum
ether extracts. Out of the seven phytochemicals tested, the ethanol extracts exhibited five
phytochemicals and had the majority which included phenols, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids
and tannins. The ethanol extract exhibited better antioxidant activity compared to that of the
aqueous extract with a mean inhibitory concentration of (71.8137 ± 0.851 µg/ml) which was
closer to that of the standard ascorbic acid (58.5696±0.118138 µg/ml). Therefore, the scientific
community is advised to add Opuntia ficus-indica as a supplement to the diabetes mellitus
regimen preferably using ethanol as an extract rather than water. It is recommended that further
studies be done on the in-vivo antioxidant properties of Opuntia ficus-indica in the management
of diabetes mellitus to justify an investment into supplement innovation with Opuntia ficusindica
leaves at the centre of the innovation. | en_US |