Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology1816-496x2152-100xAcademic Journals Inc.10.3923/jpt.2006.167.175Telfairia occidentalis (Fluted pumpkin) Leaf Extracts]]>ObohG. NwannaE.E. ElusiyanC.A. 2200612Dietary antioxidants are beneficial because of their protective roles against oxidative stress involved in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases such as cancer, anaemia, diabetics and cardiovascular diseases. This study sought to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Telfairia occidentalis, a popularly consumed green leafy vegetable in Nigeria. Telfairia occidentalis is popularly used in soup and folk medicine preparation in the management of various diseases such as diabetics, anaemia and gastrointestinal disorder. The result of this study revealed that both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Telfairia occidentalis leaves contain saponin, alkaloid and tannins, however, the aqueous extract had a significantly higher (p<0.05) total phenol (12.2%), reducing power (1.9 OD700) and free radical scavenging ability (92%) than the ethanolic extracts [total phenol (5.5%), reducing power (1.5 OD700), free radical scavenging ability (25%)]. Conversely, the ethanolic extract (0.5 mg mL-1) had a higher inhibitory effect on some of the commonly encountered Enterobacterioceae in Nigeria, namely Escherichia coli (4.0 mm), Pseudomonads aeruginosa (8.0 mm) and Proteus sp.(4.0 mm), except Salmonella typhii (2.0 mm) where the aqueous extracts had a higher inhibition of the growth. However, both extracts did not inhibit the growth of the fungi tested, which are Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatum, Penicillum italicm, Geotrichum albidum. It could be inferred from the study that extracts from Telfairia occidentalis leaf could scavenge and prevent free radical production and same time have antimicrobial property; although the aqueous extract had a higher antioxidant property, while the ethanolic extract had a higher antimicrobial property.]]>Aderibigbe, A.O., B.A. Lawal and J.O. Oluwagbemi,1999Telfairia occidentalis in mice.]]>28171175Akoroda, M.O.,1990Telfairia occidentalis (Cucurbitaceae) among Igbo of Nigeria.]]>442939Amic, D., D. Davidovic-Amic, D. Beslo and N. Trinajstic,2003765561Appel, L.J., T.J. Moore, E. Obaranek, W.M. Vollmer and L.P. Svetkey et al.,199713611171124Baynes, J.W.,199140405412Blazovics, A., A. Lugasi, K. Szentmihalyi and A. Kery,2003Sempervivum tectorum in vitro and in vivo.]]>4799102Chu, Y.F., J. Sun, X. Wu and R.H. Liu,20025069106916Dina, O.A., A.B. Saba, I.O. Akhiromen, A.A. Adedapo and O.E. Davies,2001Telfairia occidentalis on isolated guinea pig ileum.]]>45354Duke, J.A., 19921st Edn.,Franthworth, N.R.,19881988pp: 83-97pp: 83-97Liu, R.H.,20052005Longe, O.G., G.O. Farimu and B.L. Fetuga,198331989992Oboh, G., A.A. Akindahunsi, R. Famutimi and F.C. Adetuyi,1998Dioscorea sp.).]]>134750Oboh, G.,2001Allium spp.).]]>830073013Oboh, G. and R.K. Ayoola,2003in vitro biological activity of ethanolic extracts of alchornea lexiflora leaves.]]>2003pp: 151154Oboh, G.,200415134137Ojala, T., S. Remes, P. Haansuu, H. Vuorela, R. Hiltunen, K. Haahtela and P. Vuorela, 200073299305Pulido, R., L. Bravo and F. Saura-Calixto,20004833963402Singleton, V.L., R. Orthofer and R.M. Lamuela-Raventos,19991999pp: 152-178pp: 152-178Steinberg, D., S. Parthasarathy, T.E. Carew, J.C. Khoo and J.L. Witztum,1989320915924Tribe, R.M. and L. Poston,19961195206Urano, S., M. Hoshi-Hashizume, N. Tochigi, M. Matsuo, M. Shiraki and H. Ito,1991265861Urisni, F., M. Maiorino, P. Morazzoni, A. Roveri and G. Pifferi,199416547553Zheng, W. and S.Y. Wang,20014951655170Yang, J.H., H.C. Lin and J.L. Mau,200277229235Zar, J.H.,1984Pages: 620Pages: 620Brownlee, M.,2001414813820Oyolu, C.,1978Telfairia occidentalis).]]>1978