Abstract

The antioxidant activities of water extracts of Myrothamnus flabellifolius (shoot) and Ozoroa paniculosa (roots) and their combinations called “Danzoria”(equal proportion of extracts from the two plants) were evaluated  spectrophotometrically  using  the DPPH  free radical scavenging  assay. At 25 µg/ml the free radical scavenging power of the extracts were as follows: M. flabellifolius alone (66%); O. paniculosa root alone (49%); O. paniculosa stem alone (81%); O. paniculosa leaf alone (79%). At the same concentration (25 µg/ml) their combination (Danzoria) exhibited the following radical scavenging potencies: M. flabellifolius+ O. paniculosa root (85%); M. flabellifolius + O. paniculosa stem (91%); M. flabellifolius +O. paniculosa leaf (91%). At 100 µg/ml and above there were no significant differences between scavenging potencies for individual extracts and their combinations. The scavenging potencies were in magnitudes of 90-91%. These plants and their combinations contain antioxidant compounds and their free radical scavenging activity may be responsible for their antidiabetic properties as advocated in traditional medicine.

Key words: Free radical scavenging, Myrothamnus flabellifolius, Ozoroa paniculosa, antidiabetic, Eastern Botswana.