Plants containing flavonoids have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties. The aqueous acetone extract of Striga hermonthica was further separated into aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions and assayed for their in vitro antioxidant properties using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The crude extract exhibits a weak antioxidant activity (IC50 of 95.27±2.30 μg/ml) and an insignificant acute toxicity on mice (LD50: 1753±44 mg/kg). Luteolin was isolated and identified by mean of its spectral data as the main DPPH radical scavenger of the ethyl acetate fraction, exhibiting an IC50 value of 6.80±1.46 μg/ml. These results suggest an antioxidant potential for S. hermonthica..

Striga hermonthica, luteolin, antioxidant, acute toxicity