Exploration of the Chemical Potential and Antioxidant Activity of Some Plants Used in the Treatment of Male Infertility in Southern Benin

Abstract

Antioxidants are a family of substances that can neutralize free radicals and prevent and/or treat diseases associated with oxidative stress such as male’s infertility. Medicinal plants are one of the main sources of antioxidants.
 Aim: This work was aimed at evaluating the chemical and antioxidant potential of different extracts from some plants used in traditional Beninese medicine for the treatment of male infertility.
 Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on aqueous, hydro-ethanolic and ethanolic extracts from of the roots of Gardenia ternifolia (G. ternifolia), the whole plant of Cassytha filiformis (C. filiformis), the leaves of Rourea coccinea (R. coccinea) and the seed of Garcinia kola (G .kola). Quantification of the total polyphenols and flavonoids content of these extracts was evaluated respectively by the method using Folin Ciocalteu and the method using Aluminum trichloride. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by molecular spectrophotometry using the free radical scavenging of DPPH and FRAP methods.
 Results: The results obtained indicated a variation of total polyphenols and flavonoids content according to the type of extract. Hydro-ethanolic extract of the various plants studied has a high polyphenols and flavonoids content. In variable proportions, all the extracts tested reduced the DPPH radical and ferric iron, reflecting their antioxidant potential. The best antioxidant activity has been obtained with the hydro-ethanolic extracts.
 Conclusion: This study showed that all the plant's extracts studied have antioxidant activity that varies with the type of extract. However, the hydro-ethanolic extractions showed the best antioxidant activities. The data obtained in the present study justified the use of these plants in management of pathologies involving oxidative stress.

Toxicological Characterization of Ten Medicinal Plants of the Beninese Flora Used in the Traditional Treatment of Diarrheal Diseases

“…After drying, they were then reduced to powder using a Retsch SM 2000/1430/Upm/Smf electric mill. From this powder, two types of extraction of each organ of the medicinal plants studied were carried out, following the methodology described by Klotoé et al [ 31 ]. These were the aqueous extraction and the hydroethanolic extraction (50% water-ethanol; v/v).…”

Larval Cytotoxic and Subacute Toxicity of Gardenia ternifolia, Rourea coccinea, and Cassytha filiformis Used in Traditional Medicine of Benin (West Africa)

“…They were then powdered with an electric mill. From this powder, a hydroethanolic extraction was carried out according to the methodology described by Klotoé et al [ 10 ]. Fifty (50) grams of powder were macerated in 500 mL of the mixed solvent with equal volume of distilled water and 96% ethanol.…”

“…Gardenia ternifolia ( G. ternifolia ), Cassytha filiformis ( C. filiformis ), and Rourea coccinea ( R. coccinea ) are three plants of Beninese flora used in the traditional treatment of male infertility [ 9 ]. Recent studies reported the antioxidant potential and the richness of these three plants in polyphenols and flavonoids, which often are responsible for their medicinal properties [ 10 ]. In the African and Western pharmacopoeias, G. ternifolia , C. filiformis , and R. coccinea have numerous ethnopharmacological applications.…”

Assessment of the antibacterial effect of Khaya senegalensis on some Gram-negative bacteria

“…The bark of the plant stems collected, cleaned and dried at room temperature at the Research Unit of Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of natural substances was ground to powder using the Retsch electric mill. Two types of extraction (aqueous and hydro-ethanolic) were obtained following the methodology used by Klotoé et al (2020). Briefly, fifty (50) grams of powder were macerated in 500 ml of distilled water for the aqueous extract and in 500 ml of the mixture of water and ethanol at 50% v/v for the hydro-ethanolic extract.…”

“…Flavonoids contents were measured by the method using aluminium trichloride (AlCl 3 ) described by Zhishen et al (1999) and used by Klotoé et al (2020). 500 μL μL of AlCl 3 (2%), 500 μL of the extract and 3 mL of methanol were mixed thoroughly.…”