Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activities of <i>Combretum molle</i> and <i>Pericopsis laxiflora</i>

Abstract

In Burkina Faso as in several African countries, diabetes is becoming a very serious disease and public concern. Patients use both drugs and plants for treatment. Thus, Combretum molle and Pericopsis laxiflora have been identified as plants used in Burkina Faso for the treatment of that disease. The aim of the study was to assess phytochemical components and antioxidant activities of those plants in order to highlight why diabetes patients refer to them. The phytochemical analysis of water, ash quantification and screening were done using the standard methods; the antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract against 2, 2-diphenyl-1picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and hydroxyl radical were performed using colorimetric or spectrophotometric methods. The Inhibitory Concentration (IC) was determined using GraphPad Prism version 5. The results showed 6.76±0.076% and 7.52±0.015% of water contents in Combretum molle and Pericopsis laxiflora, respectively. The ash content was 3.41±0.35% for Combretum molle and 3.87±0.15% for Pericopsis laxiflora. The screening revealed the presence of tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and saponins in both plant materials. However, alkaloids were found in Pericopsis laxiflora and hydrolysables tannins and heterosides cardiotonics in Combretum molle. The IC 50 for the extract plant of Combretum molle was 42 µg/mL and that of the Pericopsis laxiflora was 44.15 µg/mL for DPPH radical. The antioxidant effect of the extract plant of Combretum molle was 216 µg/mL and the extract plant of Pericopsis laxiflora was 225 µg/mL on the nitric oxide radical. It was concluded that the presence of tannins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponin, alkaloids and cardiotonic heterosides, explains why traditional medicine uses both plants together to treat certain diseases. However, further investigations of the pharmacological potential for diabetes treatment are needed.

Nutritional content and antioxidant properties of edible indigenous wild fruits from miombo woodlands in Tanzania

“…The antioxidant capacity of the fruits was measured by evaluating the ability to react with free radicals using DPPH stable radical. DPPH has been widely used to evaluate the free radical scavenging effectiveness of various plant materials (Fofie et al, 2013;Zintchem et al, 2013;Agboola, 2014;Koevi, 2015). Most free radicals are constantly generated in the human body as byproducts during the normal process of oxidation and they are implicated in many human diseases including accelerated ageing, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disease and inflammation (Bhattacharya, 2015).…”

Anti-plasmodial activities of Combretum molle (Combretaceae) [Zwoo] seed extract in Swiss albino mice

“…It is reported that C. molle has Saponins, Triterpenes, glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponin, and alkaloids and anthraquinones [ 15 ]. Thus, the observed activity could be attributed to its chemical components such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponin, and alkaloids [ 16 ]. Some of the studies conducted so far have supported that antiplasmodial activities of plant extracts could be mainly linked to the range of compounds such asterpenes, steroids, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, xanthones, anthraquinones, berberine, limonoids, naphthoquinones, sesquiterpenes, quassinoids, indole and quinoline alkaloids [ 17 ].…”

Homogenized Pulp and Peel Extracts of Unripe Musa paradisiaca Mitigates Castor Oil-induced Diarrhea in Rats

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Scientific research reveals that the therapeutic power of herbal plant is as a result of the vast phytochemical properties inherent in them and not just because of the plants shapes as claimed by traditional users. 6,7 Global herbal products are becoming the hub of research in treatment of diseases because of its little or no side effects. 8 Diarrhoea has been described as a state of one having abnormal frequent bowel movement or passing loose fluid stool.…”