PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF THE SEEDS OF CUCUMEROPSIS EDULIS (CUCURBITACEAE) FROM MOMO IN GABON

This paper describes results of phytochemical analyses and antioxidant activity of the seeds ofCucumeropsis edulis. For phytochemical analyses, extraction was performed with the same powder using different solvents: Acetone the first, ethyl acetate the second and methanol the last. Aqueous extract was used for evaluation of antioxidant activity. The results obtained show the abundance of polyphenols, gallic tannins and alkaloids in all extracts. Reducing compounds are present in ethyl acetate and acetonic extracts and leucoanthocyans are present in methanolic extract only. The results (IC50 = 2249± 87,03 µg/mL AAI = 0,022 ± 0,001) of evaluation of antioxidant activity are very low.