Evaluation of chelating ability of aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum (African walnut) in vitro

Abstract

Summary: The chelating ability of aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum was assessed in vitro. The plant extract showed a dose dependent decrease in chelating ability in vitro .The values of chelating ability for graded doses (2%, 4%, 6% , 8% and 10% ,w/v) were 97.38, 90.56, 89.00, 87.46and 82.80%, respectively. The dose (2%,w/v) had the highest chelating ability. The antioxidant activity of the extract ranged from – 3.8% to 71.9%. At 8% concentration ,a strong positive  significant correlation was observed between chelating ability and total phenolics concentration (r = 0.89; P = 0.01).At 2% concentration , the chelating ability of the extract showed a high positive significant correlation  with antioxidant activity (r = 0.68; P = 0.001).In conclusion,the aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum could be used in the treatment  of iron-overload disdorders due to its high chelating ability in vitro at low doses. Industrial relevance: Tetracarpidium conophorum extract may be explored in the industrial production of iron chelators due to its high chelating ability in vitro at low doses, which will be of clinical relevance in the treatment of iron-overload disorders such as thalassemia, a group of genetically  inherited blood disorders characterized by defective globin chain of haemoglobin and iron overload. Iron chelators from the plant extract will decrease iron availability in the blood circulation of thalassemic patients.