Comparative Phytochemical Study and Antioxidant Activity of a Hemiparasitic Plant (Tapinanthus bangwensis Engl. & Krause, Loranthaceae) and its Host (Guiera senegalensis, Combretaceae)
Abdou Sarr *
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
Serigne Ibra Mbacké Dieng
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
Anta Dione
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
Fatimata Kébé
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
Kady Diatta-Badji
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
William Diatta
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
Alioune Dior Fall
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Guiera senegalensis is a plant of the Senegalese flora which is sometimes parasitized by another plant called Tapinathus bangwensis. These two species are used in traditional medicine against various ailments.
Aims/Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative study between the parasitic plant (Tapinanthus bangwensis) and its host (Guiera senegalensis) with regard to their chemical composition and antioxidant activity.
Methods: Phytochemical screening of the two plants leafy stem, was carried out by coloring and/or precipitation reactions. The total polyphenol contents were evaluated by the Folin-Denis method and the flavonoid content by a method using aluminium chloride (AlCl3) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2). As for the antioxidant activity, it was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP methods.
Results: The same chemical groups were identified in both plants. However, T. bangwensis was richer in total polyphenols than G. senegalensis with respective contents of 184.27 ± 3.21 and 179.46 ± 1.32 mg EAG/g of dry extract. Thus, T. bangwensis extract showed more antioxidant activity than G. senegalensis extract with respective IC50 of 5.94±0.04 µg/ml and 6.36±0.02 µg/ml.
Conclusion: The parasitic plant has a better antioxidant activity which could be due to its greater richness in secondary metabolites, in particular, polyphenols.
Keywords: Host plant, parasitic plant, Tapinantus bangwensis, Guiera senegalensis, polyphenols, antioxydant activity