Antioxidant Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to Treat Cancer in Malawi
This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of <i>Piliostigma thonningii</i> (Schumach.) Milne-Redh, <i>Psorospermum febrifugum</i> Spach, <i>Inula glomerata</i> Oliv. and Hiern, <i>Zanthoxylum chalybeum</i> Engl. and &l...
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| author | Friday Fosta Fred Masumbu John Finias Kamanula Anthony Mwakikunga Bonface Mwamatope David Tembo |
| author_facet | Friday Fosta Fred Masumbu John Finias Kamanula Anthony Mwakikunga Bonface Mwamatope David Tembo |
| author_sort | Friday Fosta Fred Masumbu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of <i>Piliostigma thonningii</i> (Schumach.) Milne-Redh, <i>Psorospermum febrifugum</i> Spach, <i>Inula glomerata</i> Oliv. and Hiern, <i>Zanthoxylum chalybeum</i> Engl. and <i>Monotes africanus</i> A.DC., claimed to treat cancer by Malawian traditional herbal practitioners. Ground and dried plant extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total alkaloid content (TAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) using standard assays. The TPC, TFC, and TAC ranged from 539 ± 2.70 to 4602 ± 32 mg GAE/g DW, 6.18 ± 0.03 to 64.04 ± 0.16 mg QE/g DW and 19.25 ± 0.07 to 76.05 ± 0.36 mg CE/g DW, respectively, and the variations were significant, <i>p</i> < 0.05. FRAP values ranged from 82.15 ± 0.7 to 687.28 ± 0.71 mg TEAC/g DW and decreased in the following order: <i>P. thoningii</i> (Schumach.) Milne-Redh <i>> P. febrifugum</i> Spach <i>> M. africanus</i> A.DC <i>> Z. chalybeum</i> Engl <i>> I. glomerata</i> Oliv. and Hiern. The scavenging activity (SA<sub>50</sub>) of the extracts ranged from 0.09 ± 0.01 to 1.57 ± 0.01 μg/mL of extract with <i>P. thonningii</i> (Schumach.) Milne-Redh showing the lowest value. Based on the levels of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity, the plants in this study could be considered for use as medicinal agents and sources of natural bioactive compounds and antioxidants. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-8800 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:39:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-12cc8d810c8249f296e1d1136cf5423a2023-12-22T14:16:37ZengMDPI AGJ2571-88002023-11-016459260410.3390/j6040039Antioxidant Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to Treat Cancer in MalawiFriday Fosta Fred Masumbu0John Finias Kamanula1Anthony Mwakikunga2Bonface Mwamatope3David Tembo4Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mzuzu University, P/B 201, Luwinga, Mzuzu 2, MalawiChemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mzuzu University, P/B 201, Luwinga, Mzuzu 2, MalawiBiomedical Sciences Department, School of Life Sciences and Allied Health Professions, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/B 360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, MalawiBasic Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe P.O. Box 219, MalawiPhysics and Biochemical Sciences Department, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, P/B 303, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, MalawiThis study evaluated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of <i>Piliostigma thonningii</i> (Schumach.) Milne-Redh, <i>Psorospermum febrifugum</i> Spach, <i>Inula glomerata</i> Oliv. and Hiern, <i>Zanthoxylum chalybeum</i> Engl. and <i>Monotes africanus</i> A.DC., claimed to treat cancer by Malawian traditional herbal practitioners. Ground and dried plant extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total alkaloid content (TAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) using standard assays. The TPC, TFC, and TAC ranged from 539 ± 2.70 to 4602 ± 32 mg GAE/g DW, 6.18 ± 0.03 to 64.04 ± 0.16 mg QE/g DW and 19.25 ± 0.07 to 76.05 ± 0.36 mg CE/g DW, respectively, and the variations were significant, <i>p</i> < 0.05. FRAP values ranged from 82.15 ± 0.7 to 687.28 ± 0.71 mg TEAC/g DW and decreased in the following order: <i>P. thoningii</i> (Schumach.) Milne-Redh <i>> P. febrifugum</i> Spach <i>> M. africanus</i> A.DC <i>> Z. chalybeum</i> Engl <i>> I. glomerata</i> Oliv. and Hiern. The scavenging activity (SA<sub>50</sub>) of the extracts ranged from 0.09 ± 0.01 to 1.57 ± 0.01 μg/mL of extract with <i>P. thonningii</i> (Schumach.) Milne-Redh showing the lowest value. Based on the levels of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity, the plants in this study could be considered for use as medicinal agents and sources of natural bioactive compounds and antioxidants.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8800/6/4/39antioxidant activitymedicinal plantsphytochemicalsanticancer propertiestraditional herbal practitioners |
| spellingShingle | Friday Fosta Fred Masumbu John Finias Kamanula Anthony Mwakikunga Bonface Mwamatope David Tembo Antioxidant Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to Treat Cancer in Malawi J antioxidant activity medicinal plants phytochemicals anticancer properties traditional herbal practitioners |
| title | Antioxidant Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to Treat Cancer in Malawi |
| title_full | Antioxidant Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to Treat Cancer in Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Antioxidant Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to Treat Cancer in Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antioxidant Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to Treat Cancer in Malawi |
| title_short | Antioxidant Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Herbal Practitioners to Treat Cancer in Malawi |
| title_sort | antioxidant activity of selected medicinal plants used by traditional herbal practitioners to treat cancer in malawi |
| topic | antioxidant activity medicinal plants phytochemicals anticancer properties traditional herbal practitioners |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8800/6/4/39 |
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