Phytochemical Study of Aqueous Extract of Ochna schweinfurthiana F. Hoffm Powder Bark and Evaluation of Their Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, and Genotoxic Properties

Ochna schweinfurthiana has been used in traditional medicine to treat pain, inflammation, and arthritis. It is a rich source of complex dimers of flavonoids with potential use as templates for the development of therapeutic drugs. Hence, the aim of this study was to study the phytochemical content and evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic, genotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of Ochna schweinfurthiana bark (OSE). Phytochemical study was carried out according to LC-MS procedures, while isolation was carried out using thin layer and column chromatographies. Cytotoxicity was investigated by the mitochondrial viability [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) method while genotoxicity potential of the extract was ascertained using the Salmonella typhimurium test strains TA98 and TA100. The anti-inflammatory effect of OSE was evaluated by the in vitro inhibition of 15-lipooxygenase enzyme and bovine serum albumin denaturation (BSA) assays. The investigation of compounds extracted from OSE led to the identification and isolation of six known compounds, namely, hemerocallone (9), 6,7-dimethoxy-3’-4’-dimethoxyisoflavone (10), lithospermoside (13), amentoflavone (14), agathisflavone (15), and β-D-fructofuranosyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (17). In the anti-inflammatory assay, aqueous extracts of the bark showed selective inhibition of 15-lipooxygenase with IC50 value of 32.2±0.36  μg/mL and the result of the bovine serum albumin denaturation assay with IC50 value of 130± 5.78 μg/mL showed moderate activity. The toxicity assay indicated that OSE are noncytotoxic on Vero cell line with LC50 value of 50 mg/mL and nongenotoxic toward Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA98 and TA100. Result from this study supports the traditional use of the selected medicinal plants in Cameroon for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Noncytotoxicity and nongenotoxicity of OSE suggest that this plant is safe for use

Carotenoid contents during ripening of banana hybrids and cultivars grown in Cameroon

Introduction. Bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) are staple foods in Cameroon and surrounding countries. Strategies based on the utilization of cultural and locally consumed foods are essential for the identification of solutions for the reduction of micronutrient malnutrition. Materials and methods. To assess the nutritional content of some varieties in order to assist the selection of new Musa hybrids, the carotenoid contents of 19 Musa cultivars and hybrids from the CARBAP (Douala, Cameroon) germplasm were determined at three ripening stages. Frozen pulps were analyzed for their β-carotene, α-carotene and lutein contents using the HPLC method. The retinol activity equivalents (RAE)·100 g–1 fresh weight were calculated for four representative Musa types. Results and discussion. Significant differences were observed between Musa cultivars according to their genotype. Plantain type (Mbouroukou n°1) and Musa hybrid (CRBP 755) exhibited the highest levels of RAE [(148 and 70) RAE·100 g–1] compared with dessert bananas (16 RAE·100 g–1). During ripening, the concentrations of these carotenoids increased or decreased significantly (α = 0.05%) according to the Musa type analyzed. The high β- and α-carotene as well as lutein contents of these Musa sp. could contribute to the nutritional status of people consuming these banana varieties in West and Central Africa and enhance their use in Musa breeding programs