Mohammed Lawan - Department of Chemistry, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria
Idris Mai Garba - Department of Chemistry, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria

The control of Striga infestation in agricultural produce proved to be difficult especially in Africa. This study therefore aimed at finding a way of making the plant useful. The results revealed that all the plants contain flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, phenols, oxalate and carbohydrates. Alkaloid and saponnins were only found to be present in S. gesnerioides. A relative high amount of flavonoids (۶.۸۶+۰.۴۲ mgRutin/g) and phenols in the stem (۹.۳۶+۰.۵۵ mgGAE/g) of S. gesnerioides closely followed by leaves of S. hermontheca ۴.۰۶+۰.۲۵ mgRutin/g, ۱۳.۰۶+۰.۳۲ mgGAE/g respectively. The presence of these bioactive components indicates the plant’s potential as a source of major secondary metabolites that may serve as novel medicines. The percentage inhibition concentration at ۵۰% (IC۵۰) of S. hermontheca stem, root and leaves were ۷۳.۱۳ µg/g, ۴۱.۳۹ µg/g and ۲۰۷.۰۱ µg/g respectively. The stem, roots and haustorium of S. gesneriodes indicated an IC۵۰ of ۷۰.۳۹ µg/g, ۵۵.۳۳ µg/g and ۵۵.۰۷ µg/g respectively while S. aciatica ۵۲.۳۵ µg/g, and ۷۲.۷۱ µg/g respectively. Compared to standard ascorbic acid with IC۵۰ of ۵۷.۷۸ µg/g, the three species have relative significant antioxidant activity. Further successive extraction, purification and characterization of the bioactive components found present in this research will make further research interesting.

Striga, Antioxidant, nutrients, Accumulation, Medicinal value, Bioactive components