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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of wild fruits from the Tswapong region of Botswana

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13134
Submitted
9 December 2025
Published
10-09-2026 — Updated on 30-09-2026
Versions

Abstract

Edible wild fruits are valuable sources of bioactive phytochemicals with potential for use in the pharmaceutical industry. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of seven wild fruits from Botswana, namely Grewia bicolor Juss., Grewia cana Sond., Grewia flava DC., Mimusops zeyheri Sond., Vangueria infausta Burch., Ximenia americana L. and Ximenia caffra Sond. Fruit pulps were extracted using methanol, ethanol and distilled water. Phenols, terpenoids, tannins and saponins with varying concentrations across the fruits were identified. Ximenia caffra had the highest total phenolic (23.378 ± 2.11 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight (GAE/g DW)) and flavonoid content (3.84 ± 0.1 mg quercetin acid equivalent/g dry weight QAE/g DW)). Antioxidant activity ranged from 1.34 ± 0.09–9.14 ± 0.07 mg GAE/g DW, via 1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 0.28 ± 0.05–6.72 ± 0.1 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g dry weight (AAE)) via 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) assays, with higher activity noted in Ximenia sp and M. zeyheri. Methanolic extracts of Ximenia sp and M. zeyheri exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with values from 9.67–4.33 mm and in vitro antibacterial activity (IC50) from 1.58–6.53 mg/mL. No in vitro antifungal activity was observed against Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger. Multivariate analysis showed a significant positive correlation among antioxidant, antimicrobial activity and phytochemical content. This study addresses the gap in comparative data in relation to wild edible fruits of Botswana and what influences their bio-functionality. These results highlight these fruits' antibacterial and antioxidant potency, suggesting further study into the isolation and purification of their bioactive compounds.

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