Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL ELEMENTS CONTENT, ANTIMICROBIAL, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF COMMONLY USED SENEGALESE MEDICINAL PLANT COMBRETUM MICRANTHUM (COMBRETACEAE)

Insa Secka*, Samba Fama Ndoye, Lalla Aicha Ba, Alassane Traoré, Abdoulaye Diop, Seydou Ka, Pierre Séne, Ismaila Ciss, Abda Ba, Seynabou Sokhna and Matar Seck

Abstract

We investigated the phytochemicals and metal content and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Combretum micranthum (CM) leave extract. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay evaluated the antioxidant activity. We have also investigated the screening of some metals in CM leaves methanolic extract (CME) and the antimicrobial activity against Escherichia colis ATCC 35218, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus facaelis ATCC 29212 and Candida albicans ATCC 24433. The study revealed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, leucoanthocyanes and catechols, polyterpenes, sterols, condensed tannins, and hydrolysable tannins. CM leaves exhibited high antioxidant activity with IC50 = 0.414 mg/ml. Results show the presence of a high quantity of Manganese (Mn), Sulfur (S), and Chlorine (Cl). We also noted the presence of elements such as Lead (Pb) and Copper (Cu) in contents below standards: the lowest value compared to the limit recommended values of 0.85 mg/kg and 46.75 mg/kg respectively. However, we show the missing Magnesium (Mg), Selenium (Se), Arsenic (As), and Mercury (Hg). The antimicrobial activity is good, with the lowest MIC value of 0.75 mg/ml for E. faecalis and Candida albicans and MIC value of 1.5 mg/ml for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. This study showed the potential antioxidant of CM leaves, justifying its traditional use in the treatment of various diseases.

Keywords: Combretum micranthum, antioxidant, antimicrobial, metals, DPPH.