Comparative Assessment Of Total Phenolic Content In Selected Medicinal Plants

This study was to compare the total phenolic (TP) content in extracts from eleven plant materials collected at different geographical locations in Kenya,Nigeria, and USA. These plants have been selected because the majority of them are highly pigmented, from yellow to purple, and would therefore haveeconomic value in industries for producing antioxidants and surfactants. Two of them were collected from the industrial and domestic waste outlets. Eachanalysis was achieved using the Folin-Ciocalteau technique. The order of decreasing phenolic acid content as gallic acid concentration (mg/g dry weight)was Prunus africana (55.14) > Acacia tortilis (42.11) > Khaya grandifoliola (17.54) > Curcuma longa (17.23) > Vernonia amygdalina (14.9)> Russeliaequisetiformis (14.03) > Calendula officinalis (7.96) >Phragmites australis (control) (7.09) > Rauwolfia vomitoria (6.69) > Phragmites australis(industrial) (6.21) > Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (5.6). The TP contents of Spartina alterniflora species were below the detection limit

The antiplasmodial activity of spermine alkaloids isolated from Albizia gummifera

In the present study the methanolic extract of Albizia gummifera was fractionated into various fractions. These fractions were tested against choroquine sensitive (NF54) and resistant (ENT30) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. All other fractions apart from the alkaloidal fraction showed low activity with IC 50 above 3 ug/ml. The alkaloidal fraction exhibited strong activity against NF54 and ENT30 with IC 50 of 0.16 ± 0.05 and 0.99 ± 0.06 ug/ml, respectively. Five known spermine alkaloids were isolated from the alkaloidal fraction. These alkaloids exhibited activities against NF54 and ENT30 with IC 50 ranging from 0.09 ± 0.02 to 0.91 ± 0.10 ug/ml. Four of the alkaloids were further evaluated for in vivo activity against rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. The alkaloids showed percentage chemosuppression of parasitaemia in mice ranging from 43 to 72%. The use of the extracts A. gummifera for treatment of malaria in traditional medicine seems to have a scientific basis