ANTIMALARIAL, FERRIC REDUCING ANTIOXIDANT POWER AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF Caesalpinia pulcherrima LEAF EXTRACT

Medicinal plants may be defined as a group of plants that possess some special properties which qualify them as drugs or therapeutic agents and are used for medicinal purposes. 1 Even with the advent of technologies like combinatorial chemistry or computeraided drug design, medicinal plants containing bioactive chemical constituents are extensively responsible for the development of new drugs. 2 Molecules containing one or more unpaired electrons are called free radicals. In our body during the normal oxidation of foods, free radicals are constantly generated and about 1-4% of oxygen taken up in the body is converted to free radicals by oxidase enzymes. 3 For these free radicals, lipid peroxidation occurs which is responsible for the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups, protein deformation, DNA bases fragmentation which can result in the mutation of genetic sequences. Free radicals cause different diseases such as cancer, inflammation, respiratory and cardiovascular disorder, muscular dystrophy, diabetes and neurological disorder. 4 To neutralize these free radicals, antioxi

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 73%

Phytochemical Characterization and Evaluation of Pharmacological Activities of Leaves of a Mangrove Plant Species - Aegiceras corniculatum (L.)

2020

“…Also, iron is a crucial component of the oxygen-transporting protein "haemoglobin" whose deficiency leads to anaemia. 17,18…”

Section: Quantitative Phytochemical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition of Crude Powder and Ethanol Extract of Annona muricata Leaves

Olude¹,

Asoya²,

Uchenna³

2020

Annona muricata (Soursop) is a tropical plant used in folk medicine in the treatment of different diseases and infections. In the present study, we investigated the phytochemical constituents and nutritional composition of Annona muricata leaves. Phytochemical screening was performed on the ethanol leaf extract of A. muricata using standard procedures. Proximate and mineral content of the leaves were also analysed. The result of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, carbohydrates, proteins, phytosterols, and saponins while anthraquinones and reducing sugars were absent. The quantitative evaluation showed that the ethanol leaf extract contains a high amount of phenolic compounds such as proanthocyanidins, phenolics, and flavonoids. The leaves of Annona muricata were found to be rich in carbohydrate (27.81%), fat (21.19%), and moisture (21.15%). The total protein (12.69%) was considered to be of moderate value, while the ash (8.67%) and crude fibre (8.50%) were lesser. Minerals such as calcium (72.52 ppm), potassium (49.92 ppm), sodium (30.33 ppm), iron (25.8 ppm), magnesium (18.52 ppm), phosphorus (10.87 ppm) and zinc (2.63 ppm) were also detected. The result of this study shows that the leaves of A. muricata are rich sources of secondary active compounds of possible therapeutic value. It is also a good source of essential and non-essential nutrient required for metabolic processes in the body.

“…Plant extracts contain numerous biologically active compounds with antioxidant activity that act through different reaction mechanisms. [33][34][35][36] For these reasons in the present investigation, the antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated by three in vitro methods (FRAP, DPPH and ABTS). In the FRAP test (Table 2A) the two extracts were able to reduce ferric (Fe 3+ ) to ferrous iron (Fe 2+ ), which was reflected in the high values of μM equivalents of ascorbic acid and μM equivalents of FeSO4 (reference substances).…”

Section: Antioxidant Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Characterization of Leaves and Bark of Mimusops coriacea (A.DC) Miq from Ecuador

2020

understanding of the therapeutic virtues of this natural product. 5 Mimusops coriacea (A.DC) Miq (Sapotaceae) is one of the many species distributed in Ecuador, of restricted abundance in the coastal regions and in the Amazon, in areas with well-drained soils and rainy weather. It has been widely cultivated in the tropics for centuries, native only to Madagascar and the Comoros Islands. 6 Traditionally, the species is used as a tonic, febrifuge, in the treatment of inflammation of the urethra, 7 cystitis, diarrhea and dysentery. 8 Particularly in Ecuador, it is used as an analgesic and antiinflammatory. 9 This has motivated the study of leaves and bark of the species, for which there are no reports that support its bioactive potential that could justify its use in traditional Ecuadorian medicine. The objective of this work is to determine the chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of leaves and bark of M. coriacea. Materials and Methods Plant material The species were collected in May 2019 at the "Botanical Garden," a protected natural vegetative area located in the North zone of "Las Orquídeas" area, next to the Francisco de Orellana Avenue, in the hills of "Cerro Colorado" of Guayaquil city, Guayas province, Ecuador (coordinates 02°12′13.6800″S 079°53′50.6400″W). The area is located in an altitudinal belt between 50 and 200 m. a. s. l. in a tropical dry forest climate, with alluvial and sedimentary soils, cumulative rainfall of 1,150 mm/year, with monthly average temperatures of 31.