Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 49: 3355 - 3362. Published January 29, 2012.
Quantification of total phenols and flavonoids of Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC. (Papillionaceae) and projection of their antioxidant capacity
Konan Koffi Marcel, Mamyrbékova-Békro Janat Akhanovna*, Békro Yves-Alain
Laboratoire de Chimie Bio Organique et de Substances Naturelles, UFR-SFA, Université d’Abobo-Adjamé, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Corresponding author e-mail: bekro2001@yahoo.fr
ABSTRACT
Objective: The present study highlights the potential of Desmodium adscendens in the trapping process of toxic oxygen radicals, particularly its flavonoid extracts.
Methodology and results: First, the levels of polyphenols and flavonoids in leaves and stems of D. adscendens were evaluated by spectrophotometry. The leaves are richer in total polyphenol (3768.33 μg GAE/g) compared with stems (2153.67 μg GAE/g). There were 0.077% of flavonoids found in leaves; while in the stems were 0.02%. Tests against free radicals of DPPH (1, 1’-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) were made with different extracts of leaves and stems of D. adscendens. The ethyl acetate extract of the leaves (EC50= 0.26 mg/ml) showed the strongest antioxidant activity.
Conclusions and potential application of findings: This study confirms the antioxidant activity of flavonoid extracts reported by various studies. The results of this study can be a rational scientific explanation to the large use of D. adscendens in non-conventional medicine by the populations. This study is a contribution to the search for natural antioxidants.
Key words: Polyphenols, flavonoids, Desmodium adscendens, antioxidant
FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE]
