Antioxidant Potential of Crude Powder, Methanol and Aqueous Extracts of Fonio Millet (Digitaria exilis) Grains

Abstract

This study evaluated the antioxidant potential along with total phenolic content, total flavonoid content of the crude powder, methanol and aqueous extracts of Digitaria exilis grains. The antioxidant activities of the crude powder and extracts were determined by measuring the reducing ability and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. The results showed that methanol extracts exhibited the highest total phenolic content (57.96 ± 6.84 mg gallic acid equivalence/g dried weight) and total flavonoid content (38.75 ± 9.76 mg quercetin equivalence/g dried weight) compared to the crude powder and aqueous extracts. A concentration- dependent increase in the reducing ability and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity was observed in all the samples. The results were comparable to ascorbic acid, the standard antioxidant used. These results indicate that Digitaria exilis grains have antioxidant activity and may account for the use of the grains in traditional systems of medicine.