Cytotoxicity, phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of crude extracts from Rhizomes of <i>Elephantorrhiza Elephantina</i> and <i>Pentanisia Prunelloides</i>

Abstract

Background: Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Ee) and Pentanisia prunelloides (Pp) are two medicinal plants which are widely used to remedy various ailments including diarrhoea, dysentery, inflammation, fever, rheumatism, heartburn, tuberculosis, haemorrhoids, skin diseases, perforated peptic ulcers and sore joints in southern Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana and Zimbabwe). The following study was conducted to explore the in vitro cytotoxicity, antioxidant properties and phytochemical profile of the two medicinal plants. Materials and Methods:The cytotoxicity of the aqueous and methanol extracts and fractions of both species was studied using the brine shrimp lethality tests (BST) for the first time. Results:The results demonstrated that the lethality (LC 50 ) for crude extracts for both plants ranged between 1.8 and 5.8 ppm and was relatively greater than that for the methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions of the extracts which ranged between 2.1 ppm and 27 ppm. This suggested that crude extracts were more potent than their respective fractions, further explaining that the different fractions of phytochemicals in these plant species work jointly (in synergy) to exert their therapeutic efficacy. Both aqueous and methanol extracts of the two medicinal plants demonstrated a high degree of antioxidant capacity against the DPPH radical with the Duh and Yen inhibition percentage ranging between 4.5% and 72%. Phytochemical studies of the rhizome extracts showed that the major compounds present include flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanidins, anthraquinones, triterpenoids (oleanolic acid), the steroidal saponin Diosgenin, the sugars, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, Arabinose and hexoses. Conclusion: This is the first report of the detection and isolation of diosgenin and oleanolic acid from the rhizome extracts of Ee and Pp. All structures were determined using spectroscopic/spectrometric techniques (1H NMR and 13C and LC-ESI-MS) and by comparison with literature data.

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

“…Recently, Msimanga et al [55] isolated the following compounds from hexane root extracts of E. elephantina : hexadecanoic 15 , 9,12-octadecadienoic 16 , 9-octadecenoic 17 , octadecanoic acid 18 , butanedioic acid 19 , benzoic acid 20 , 3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid 21 , nonanedioic acid 22 , tridecanoic acid 23 , methyl pentadecanoate 24 , methyl hexadec-9-enoate 25 , methyl hexadecanoate 26 , methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-phenyl)propionate 27 , cis-10-Heptadecenoic acid 28 , methyl heptadecanoate 29 , methyl octadecanoate 30 , cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapenta-enoic acid 31 , eicosanoic acid 32 , methyl tetracosanoate 33 , pentacosanoic acid 34 , hexacosanoic acid 35 , methyl octacosanoate 36, and tetradecanedioic acid 37 . The phytochemical studies of the rhizome extracts of E. elephantina carried out by Mpofu et al [54] showed the presence of anthraquinone 38 , triterpenoids oleanolic acid 39 , diosgenin 40 , rhamnose 41 , glucuronic acid 42, and arabinose 43 . In another phytochemical evaluation of E. elephantina rhizome extracts, Mpofu et al [56] isolated kaempferol 2 , epicatechin 14 , glucuronic acid 42 , arabinose 43 , epigallocatechin gallate 44 , quercetin 45, and epicatechin gallate 46 .…”

Phytochemical Screening, Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of Pentanisia Prunelloides From the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

“…The results show that most abundant compounds found in the leaf and rhizome of P. prunelloides were flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins. The high concentration of flavonoids in P. prunelloides can be suggested to be responsible for its antioxidant reported activities (Mpofu et al, 2014). The leaves had lower concentrations of these secondary metabolites than the rhizomes.…”

“…Phytochemical screening of P. prunelloides indicate high concentration of alcohol precipitable solids (0.7-7.0%) and amino acids, while sucrose and (−)-epicatechin have been isolated (Ndlovu, 2007). Palmitic acid was identified as a major compound in P. Prunelloides (Yff et al, 2002), diosgenin and oleanolic acid have also been isolated from the rhizome extract of P. prunelloides (Mpofu et al, 2014). Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activities of P. prunelloides extract has been ascribed to the presence of flavonoids and saponins (Mpofu et al, 2013).…”

“…Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activities of P. prunelloides extract has been ascribed to the presence of flavonoids and saponins (Mpofu et al, 2013). Analgesic properties of P. prunelloides have been reported (Mpofu et al, 2014). Considering the widespread use of this plant in the Eastern Cape Province and the search for new bioactive molecules from natural sources, P. prunelloides was investigated.…”

Characterization of Microwave-Assisted Extracts of Citrus sinensis Exocarp and Mesocarp Peels for their Pharmaceutical Excipient Potentia

“…67 It is also utilize as fodder for animals in South Africa and have been considered as a veterinary medicine. 68,69 A wide range of phytochemicals such as anthocyanidins, 70 anthraquinones, 70 esters, fatty acids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, 70 glycosides, polysterols, saponins, 71 sugars, tannins, and triterpenoids have been isolated from rhizome extracts of E. elephantina. 72 In some studies aqueous root extracts have been found to exert antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects.…”