Author(s): Iniobong Enengedi, Okon Ekpa and Ukana Akpabio

Abstract: Photoaging is of the increase in sunny geographical areas due to long-term effects of repeated exposure to ultra violet (UV) radiation. The antioxidant properties of Dacryodes edulis leaf and bar extracts were determined using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. All the ethanol and aqueous extracts of D. edulis: Uyo leaf (IC₅₀ = 148.43±0.04 μg/cm³ and 161.72±1.02 μg/cm³), Uyo bark (IC₅₀ = 152.29±2.04 μg/cm³ and 171.34±0.04 μg/cm³), Ikom leaf (IC₅₀ = 153.45±0.05 μg/cm³ and 142.08±0.01 μg/cm³) and Ikom bark (IC₅₀ = 126.37±0.02 μg/cm³ and 129.60±5.07 μg/cm³) respectively, except the aqueous extract of D. edulis-Uyo bark, significantly (p<0.05) exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than the standard antioxidant, Butylated hydroxyanisole. This high antioxidant activity could be attributed to their significantly (p<0.05) higher phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents. These extracts could be used as active ingredients in photo-protective personal care products to counteract the effect of UV light on the skin.