[01] Ubaoji Kingsley Ikechukwu, Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. [02] Asogwa Kingsley Kelechi, Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. [03] Enemali Michael Okey, Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. [04] Oguazu Chinenye Enoch, Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. [05] Nwodika Amarachi Chinaza, Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. [06] Ezeanyaso Princess Mmesoma, Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

There has been proliferation of herbal drinks known as alcoholic bitters. Bitters in this present study, is a beverage, often alcoholic, flavoured with herbal substances that gives it a bitter or bittersweet flavor. Unconventional traditional medicine practice which employ the use of herbs have in recent times been gaining much publicity and recognition, for their solution to ailments seemingly elusive to the system of orthodox medical practice. In this study, the in-vitro and in-vivo antioxidant effect of some selected alcoholic bitters (Alomo, Orijin, Action and Jedi jedi) sold in South East Nigeria was evaluated using standard methods. The results obtain showed that Alomo bitters and Jedi jedi have great potential to scavenge free radicals (EC₅₀: Alomo, 31.6%; Jedi jedi, 44.09%; BHA, 36.32%) and had no significant effect (P<0.05) on the antioxidant enzymes studied. Jedi jedi and Alomo bitters also showed a high reducing power capacity. They had a better electron donating ability compared to the standard (OD_0.5: Alomo, 7.81%; Jedi jedi, 6.86; BHA, 8.83%). This was attributed to their high content of polyphenols. On the other hand, Action bitters and Orijin bitters had significant effect on the antioxidant enzymes, leading to lipid peroxidation. The in-vitro assay of their antioxidant activity showed a very low potential to scavenge free radical (EC50: Action, 181.52%; Orijin, 775.04%). Their reducing power capacity was also significantly lower than the other group and the standard (OD_0.5: Action, 27.5%; Orijin, 57.88%). This could be as a result of their low concentration in some antioxidant molecules. The administration of these substances was on a daily bases during the experiment, thus regular intake of this bitters may cause oxidative stress.

Unorthodox Traditional Practice, Herbal Drinks, Alcoholic Bitters, Antioxidant

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