Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY AND EVALUATION OF THE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF TWO MEDICINAL PLANTS IN BENIN

Kossi Jean Marie D. Tokoudagba* and Fernand A. Gbaguidi

.

Abstract

Walteria indica tropical perennial plant of the Fabaceae family and Pteleopsis suberosa Engl. and Diels (Combretaceae) tree of the genus Pteleopsis of the Combretaceae family are plants widely used in traditional medicine in Benin. In the present work we prepared hydro ethanolic extracts from the dried leaves of these two plants and the yields of crude extract (hydro ethanolic) are about 22.19% and 27.2% respectively. Quantitative estimation of flavonoids and total phenols by colorimetric method and Folin Ciocalteux method showed that both extracts are rich in these compounds. The evaluation of antioxidant power which was carried out by means of DPPH free radical scavenging method and FRAP Iron reduction method revealed that Walteria indica hydro ethanolic extract has higher reducing power than that of Pteleopsis suberosa hydro ethanolic extract and ascorbic acid.

Keywords: Walteria indica Pteleopsis suberosa flavonoids, antioxidant activity, Polyphenols.