PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SELECTED MANGO (MANGIFERA INDICA L.) AND AVOCADO (PERSEA AMERICANA) FRUITS IN ILLU ABABOR ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) and Avocado (Persea americana) fruits are rich in bioactive molecules that protect human cells against the detrimental effect of free radicals. The phytochemical analysis revealed the Presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, phenolics and flavonoids in both fruits. The free radical scavenging activity using total antioxidant capacity of the phosphomolybdenum method and hydrogen peroxide method were carried out on the water extracts of mango and avocado fruits. The order of antioxidant potential according to phosphomolybdenum method and hydrogen peroxide method was found to be higher in Mangifera indica L. than in Persea americana. The result for the total antioxidant capacity of the measured concentration (0.1 - 0.3 mg/ml) had mangifera indica showing the higher capacity with 0.372 mg Ascorbic Acid Equivalence (AAE) and Persea americana be with 0.265 mg Ascorbic Acid Equivalence (AAE). Further, the hydrogen peroxide scavanging activity was recorded maximum for Mangifera indica L. (70.67%) and (68%) for Persea americana. Phytochemical screening on the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenolics, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. The results revealed that the antioxidant activity of mango fruit extracts is greater than that of avocado. The antioxidant activities of the same fruits type differ from place to place even in the same zone.