Antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts from Diospyros mespiliformis (jackal berry), Flacourtia indica (Batoka plum), Uapaca kirkiana (wild loquat) and Ziziphus mauritiana (yellow berry) fruits

Abstract

Four wild fruits, Diospyros mespiliformis, Flacourtia indica, Uapaca kirkiana and Ziziphus mauritiana, were extracted with methanol and analysed for radical-scavenging effect of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, reducing power and anion radical effect on superoxide anion using colorimetric method. There was an increase in the radical-scavenging effect, reducing power and superoxide anion radical-scavenging effect as the concentration of sample increased. Diospyros mespiliformis had high DPPH radical-scavenging capacity. The peels of F. indica and U. kirkiana had higher DPPH radical-scavenging effects, reducing power and superoxide-scavenging effects compared with the pulp while the pulp of Z. mauritiana had high DPPH radical-scavenging effects, reducing power and superoxide-scavenging effects compared with the peel.

Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and mutagenic investigation of the South African tree aloe (Aloe barberae)

“…Aloin and chrysophanol contains multiple hydroxyl groups (common in most phenolic compounds) which undergo a reduction reaction with Folin C. reagent upon spraying the TLC plates to form deep blue spots. Phenolic compounds, including tannins have been reported to exhibit antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (Bourrel et al, 1993;Polya, 2003;Ndhlala et al, 2008). The extracts of the mature bark showed more bands on the TLC profiles compared to the young bark (Fig.…”

Antimicrobial properties and phenolic contents of medicinal plants used by the Venda people for conditions related to venereal diseases

“…Some phenolic compounds have been used to treat inflammatory diseases and have been implicated in wound healing (Ndhlala et al, 2008b). Gallotannins exhibit biological activities including antimicrobial, anticancer and antiviral properties (Hagerman et al, 1999;Van Molle et al, 2000;Feldman et al, 2001;Lee et al, 2003).…”

Elephantorrhiza elephantina: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of an Important Medicinal Plant Species in Southern Africa

“…This study carried out by Mpofu et al [54] revealed that there were more extractable antioxidants using methanol compared to water as the solvent. The antioxidant activities demonstrated by E. elephantina rhizome extracts are probably due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolics [74]. Antioxidant properties displayed by E. elephantina could be due to the compound ethyl gallate 4 .…”