Abstract

TLC PROFILE AND EFFECTS OF TIGER NUT METHANOL EXTRACT ON ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Patricia O. Odumosu*, Raymond Dashe and Alice D. Ali

ABSTRACT

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) also known as chufa sedge, nut grass, yellow nutsedge, edible galingale, water grass or earth almond is an edible tuber belonging to the Family Cyperaceae. It can be consumed raw, roasted, dried, baked or as tiger nut milk or oil. Tiger nut is reported to be rich in nutrients especially vitamin C, E and many other phenolic compounds that are antioxidant in nature in addition to having several health benefits. In view of these, the methanol extract was profiled using thin layer chromatography (TLC) for in vitro antioxidant assay and investigations of behavioural studies and enzymatic studies involving catalase, glutathione- S-transferase (GST) and total thiol content in Drosophila. The in vivo experiments were conducted to determine the effect on the expression of some enzymes in Drosophila melanogaster which are reported to ameliorate age related oxidative stress by enhancing the antioxidant capacity. The TLC plate showed the presence of antioxidant spot with radical scavenging properties when visualised with DPPH. Also, there was a significant improvement in locomotor activities (p < 0.05) and enhancement of the endogenous enzyme antioxidant system (catalase, GST and thiol content) on supplementation with tiger nut extract (100 mg/10g, 200 mg/10g diet and 500mg/10g diet) to the meals of the flies. The in vivo study provides evidence of increased locomotor activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes with tiger nut supplementation to the diet of the flies and the potential health benefits.

Keywords: TLC profile, Antioxidant, Tiger nut, Drosophila melanogaster, Ageing.