Phenolic characterization and lipid lowering properties of powder fractions and ethanolic extract of Adansonia digitata pulp.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of controlled differential sieving treatment on the phenolic content and antihyperlipidemic activity of A.digitata pulp and compared it to the effect of ethanolic extract. For this purpose, powders with particle sizes ranging from 20 to 100 µm and above were produced and analyzed. As a first step, we identified and quantified the phenolic compounds present in the samples by chromatography in liquid phase coupled to a UV detector and mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Then, we evaluated the antihyperlipidemic activity of the different fractions in adult male rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg and compared them with those of unsieved powder and the lyophilized ethanolic extract. LC-MS analysis identified four compounds (quercetin, rutin, ferrulic acid and cafeic acid) in the different sample of A. digitata pulp powder. The granulometric class <50μm showed the best concentration, higher than those of the other granulometric class and crude powder. This fraction also showed content of phenolic compounds similar to those of ethanolic extract except cafeic acid which was more concentrated in the ethanolic extract. The antihyperlipidemic activity were significantly influenced (P <0.05) by particle sizes. The best activity was obtained from the <50μm µm fraction which was significantly (P <0.05) higher than the other fractions and the unsieved powder to improve the lipid parameters (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG), transaminases (ALAT and ASAT) and creatinine. It showed similar activity to the ethanolic extract with the exception of LDL-C which is lower in this fraction. Controlled differential sieving process can be an alternative to ethanol extraction and may be an option to improve the content of phenolic compounds and antihyperlipidemic activity of plant powders.