West Indian Med J DOI: 10.7727/wimj.2016-045 Saponin, Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Properties of Blighia sapida Pods A Goldson-Barnaby, R Williams ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the saponin, antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of Blighia sapida (ackee) pods. Saponins exhibit a wide range of medicinal properties which includes anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Methods: Pods from the Blighia sapida fruit were evaluated for the presence of saponins by Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR). Methanolic extracts of the pods were also analyzed for total phenolics, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. Antioxidant activity was determined by the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and total phenolics by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Results: The IR spectrum exhibited peaks which are consistent with the presence of triterpenoidal saponins. The peaks observed indicated the presence of hydroxyl (3317 cm -1 ), alkene (1633 cm -1 ) and ester (1030, 1242, 1367 cm -1 ) functionalities. The pods of the fruit contain high levels of antioxidant (1.81 ± 0.11 mg/g) and free radical scavenging activities (69.70 ± 1.32 %). Conclusion: Blighia sapida pods may be an untapped source of medicinally active compounds containing antioxidant, anticancer and free radical scavenging properties. Keywords: Blighia sapida, ackee, pods, triterpenoid, saponins, antioxidant activity From: Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica Correspondence: Dr AM Goldson-Barnaby, The University of the West Indies, 2 Plymouth Crescent, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica. Fax: 1 876-977-1835, e-mail: andrea.goldson03@uwimona.edu.jm