PHENOLIC CONTENT DISTRIBUTION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF TERMINALIA SERICEA BURCH

Authors

  • Chinedu P. Anokwuru
  • Isaiah D. I. Ramaite
  • Pascal Bessong

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21010/ajtcam.v12i4.4

Keywords:

Phenolic contents, Terminalia sericea, Antioxidant activity, Distribution studies.

Abstract

Background: Terminalia sericea has been used traditionally for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress. This study was aimed at determining the distribution of phenols in the leaves, stem bark and root bark of Terminalia sericea and their antioxidant activity. Materials and methods: Hot and cold water, methanol/acetone extracts were evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC), flavone/flavonol content (FFC), flavonone/dihydroflavone content (FDFC), hydroxycinnamic acid derivative content (HCAC) and tannin content (TC). DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radicals and reducing power assays were used to assess the antioxidant activity. Results: The leaves had the highest average TPC (440) expressed in milligram Gallic Acid Equivalent (mgCAE) /gram of the extract. The leaves also had the highest average TC (7.14) expressed in milligram Quercetin Equivalent (mgQE) /gram of the extract. The stem had the highest average FDFC (19.23 mgQE/g) while the root had the highest average FFC (74.76 mgQE/g) and HCAC (214.57) expressed in milligram Caffeic Acid Equivalent mgCAE/ gram of the extract. The stem exhibited the highest average DPPH free radical scavenging (9.85 µg/mL) and reducing power (6.01 µg/mL) activities. Water was a better extracting solvent for TPC and FDFC while methanol/acetone was a better extracting solvent for FFC and HCAC. The correlation between TC and reducing power activity (r=0.668) at P < 0.05 suggests that tannins were responsible for the antioxidant activity. Conclusion: This study has shown that the distribution of phenolics differs in the organs of T. sericea, and could affect the quality of medicinal products sold.

Author Biographies

Chinedu P. Anokwuru

Department of Chemistry, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa.

Isaiah D. I. Ramaite

Department of Chemistry, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa

Downloads

Published

2015-06-27

How to Cite

Anokwuru, C. P., Ramaite, I. D. I., & Bessong, P. (2015). PHENOLIC CONTENT DISTRIBUTION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF TERMINALIA SERICEA BURCH. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 12(4), 21–27. https://doi.org/10.21010/ajtcam.v12i4.4

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 4 (2015)

Section

Research Papers

License

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution CC.

This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered. Recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials. View License Deed | View Legal Code Authors can also self-archive their manuscripts immediately and enable public access from their institution's repository. This is the version that has been accepted for publication and which typically includes author-incorporated changes suggested during submission, peer review and in editor-author communications.