Antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of ziziphus abyssinica extracts: A comparative study of root and leaf extracts
Ziziphus abyssinica Hochst. ex A. Rich., a traditionally valued Ethiopian medicinal plant, was investigated for its phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and acute toxicity to validate its ethnopharmacological uses. Through sequential solvent extraction (n-hexane to aqueous), methanol an...
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Toxicology Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025002227 |
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| author | Tsegay Beyene Weldemariam Abebaye Aragaw Leminie Worku Gemechu Samuel Woldekidan Hirpesa Getahun Tsegaye Dibaba Kerat Ali Muhamed Beza Tasew Degefu Tesfaye Tolessa Dugul |
| author_facet | Tsegay Beyene Weldemariam Abebaye Aragaw Leminie Worku Gemechu Samuel Woldekidan Hirpesa Getahun Tsegaye Dibaba Kerat Ali Muhamed Beza Tasew Degefu Tesfaye Tolessa Dugul |
| author_sort | Tsegay Beyene Weldemariam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ziziphus abyssinica Hochst. ex A. Rich., a traditionally valued Ethiopian medicinal plant, was investigated for its phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and acute toxicity to validate its ethnopharmacological uses. Through sequential solvent extraction (n-hexane to aqueous), methanol and ethyl acetate fractions of leaves exhibited superior antioxidant activity (DPPH EC50: 12.5 ± 0.8 μg/mL; ABTS EC50: 15.2 ± 1.0 μg/mL), correlating with high phenolic (120.5 ± 0.7 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (85.6 ± 0.6 mg QE/g) content. Leaves consistently outperformed roots across assays, reflecting tissue-specific metabolic specialization. Comprehensive phytochemical profiling revealed alkaloids, saponins, and glycosides, with quantitative analysis demonstrating solvent-dependent metabolite recovery. Acute toxicity testing using Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guideline 425, at 2000 mg/kg showed no mortality or significant biochemical alterations, though mild hepatic vacuolization was observed histologically. The study highlights Z. abyssinica’s dual promise as a source of natural antioxidants with a favorable safety profile, while establishing standardized protocols for its evaluation. These findings bridge traditional knowledge with scientific validation, supporting its potential development for nutraceutical or therapeutic applications targeting oxidative stress-related pathologies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2c0e40603d8445dba3aa294df4df1226 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-7500 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxicology Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-2c0e40603d8445dba3aa294df4df12262025-08-20T03:59:22ZengElsevierToxicology Reports2214-75002025-12-011510210310.1016/j.toxrep.2025.102103Antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of ziziphus abyssinica extracts: A comparative study of root and leaf extractsTsegay Beyene Weldemariam0Abebaye Aragaw Leminie1Worku Gemechu2Samuel Woldekidan Hirpesa3Getahun Tsegaye Dibaba4Kerat Ali Muhamed5Beza Tasew Degefu6Tesfaye Tolessa Dugul7School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Akum University, Ethiopia; School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Corresponding author at: School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Akum University, Ethiopia.School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, EthiopiaTraditional and Modern Medicine Directorates, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, EthiopiaTraditional and Modern Medicine Directorates, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, EthiopiaTechnical Assistant at Addis Ababa University Department of Physiology, EthiopiaClinical Trial Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, EthiopiaNoncommunicable Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, EthiopiaSchool of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, EthiopiaZiziphus abyssinica Hochst. ex A. Rich., a traditionally valued Ethiopian medicinal plant, was investigated for its phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and acute toxicity to validate its ethnopharmacological uses. Through sequential solvent extraction (n-hexane to aqueous), methanol and ethyl acetate fractions of leaves exhibited superior antioxidant activity (DPPH EC50: 12.5 ± 0.8 μg/mL; ABTS EC50: 15.2 ± 1.0 μg/mL), correlating with high phenolic (120.5 ± 0.7 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (85.6 ± 0.6 mg QE/g) content. Leaves consistently outperformed roots across assays, reflecting tissue-specific metabolic specialization. Comprehensive phytochemical profiling revealed alkaloids, saponins, and glycosides, with quantitative analysis demonstrating solvent-dependent metabolite recovery. Acute toxicity testing using Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guideline 425, at 2000 mg/kg showed no mortality or significant biochemical alterations, though mild hepatic vacuolization was observed histologically. The study highlights Z. abyssinica’s dual promise as a source of natural antioxidants with a favorable safety profile, while establishing standardized protocols for its evaluation. These findings bridge traditional knowledge with scientific validation, supporting its potential development for nutraceutical or therapeutic applications targeting oxidative stress-related pathologies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025002227Ziziphus abyssinicaAntioxidant activityAcute toxicityDPPH assayMedicinal plants |
| spellingShingle | Tsegay Beyene Weldemariam Abebaye Aragaw Leminie Worku Gemechu Samuel Woldekidan Hirpesa Getahun Tsegaye Dibaba Kerat Ali Muhamed Beza Tasew Degefu Tesfaye Tolessa Dugul Antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of ziziphus abyssinica extracts: A comparative study of root and leaf extracts Toxicology Reports Ziziphus abyssinica Antioxidant activity Acute toxicity DPPH assay Medicinal plants |
| title | Antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of ziziphus abyssinica extracts: A comparative study of root and leaf extracts |
| title_full | Antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of ziziphus abyssinica extracts: A comparative study of root and leaf extracts |
| title_fullStr | Antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of ziziphus abyssinica extracts: A comparative study of root and leaf extracts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of ziziphus abyssinica extracts: A comparative study of root and leaf extracts |
| title_short | Antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of ziziphus abyssinica extracts: A comparative study of root and leaf extracts |
| title_sort | antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of ziziphus abyssinica extracts a comparative study of root and leaf extracts |
| topic | Ziziphus abyssinica Antioxidant activity Acute toxicity DPPH assay Medicinal plants |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025002227 |
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