Evaluation of the Nutritional Compositions and Analgesic Effects of the Flavonoid Fraction of Eugenia uniflora Ripe Fruit Pulp

Objectives: This present study was carried out to determine the phytochemical compositions, proximate compositions, anti-nutrients content and analgesic activities of the flavonoid fraction from the ripe fruit pulp of Eugenia uniflora.
Method: The phytochemical, proximate and anti nutrient compositions of the ripe fruit pulp of Eugenia uniflora and flavonoid extraction were determined using standard methods. The analgesic effect of the flavonoid fraction was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion test in mice. A dose 50 mg/ kg body weight of the flavonoid fraction was orally administered using cannula. The activity was compared with a standard reference drug 10 mg/kg diclofenac and normal control.
Results: The different phytoconstituents of the fruit pulp include the alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, reducing sugar, tannins, terpenoids, saponins and steroids. The proximate showed moisture (90.35%), carbohydrate (4.68%), ash (3.05%), protein (1.31%), fat (0.63%) and fiber (0.11%) contents. The anti-nutrients present included oxalate (34.08%) and cyanogenic glycoside (0.16%). The fraction and the standard drug significantly lowered (p>0.05) the total number of writhes induced by acetic acid. The percentage inhibition decreased from 0% in the normal control to 57.78% at 50 mg/kg of the fraction. The fraction significantly increased (p<0.05) the pain reaction time (PRT) induced by tail immersion test compared to the standard drug and control groups.
Conclusion: The fruit has adequate dietary nutrients and the concentration of the anti-nutrients will not be harmful to prevent the consumption of the fruit. It also suggests that E. uniflora fruit pulp possesses effective analgesic activity possibly mediated via both peripheral and central mechanism.

Author(s): Nwanneka N Onwudiwe, Obioma U Njoku, Okwesilieze FC Nwodo, Joshua E Parker and Martins O Ogugofor

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