Planta Med 2007; 73 - P_212
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-986993

Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides

MO Sofidiya 1, 2, FO Jimoh 1, AA Aliero 2, AJ Afolayan 2, OA Odukoya 1, OB Familoni 3
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, university of Lagos, Nigeria
  • 2Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa
  • 3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Nigeria

Lecaniodiscus cupanioides Planch. Ex Bth (Sapindaceae) is widely used in Nigerian folk medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, hepatomegaly and bacterial infections. This study investigated the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract of the leaves to justify its use in traditional medicine.

DPPH, Reducing power and ABTS assays were used as antioxidant models. Total phenolic content was calculated as tannic acid equivalents (TAE mg). Total flavonoid content was estimated as quercetin and proanthocyanidin expressed as catechin equivalent. Antimicrobial activity was determined by agar radial diffusion method against selected strains of gram +ve (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidus, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus kristinae and Streptococcus pyrogens) and gram -ve (Escherichia coli, Salmonella pooni, Serratia marcescen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonae) bacteria.

The extract exhibited strong DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity greater than BHT and was comparable to ascorbic acid. At a dose of 0.1mg/ml the extract inhibited DPPH and ABTS radicals up to 99.4% and 98.5% respectively. The multiple antioxidant activity of the extract was evident, as it also possessed moderate reducing power. TAE was 37.67±1.66mg/g. This is higher than that reported in many other plant extracts, based on dry extract. Flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents were 4.14±0.06 and 2.54±0.32mg/g respectively. Strong correlation was recorded between ABTS/TAE (R 2=0.89) DPPH/TAE (R 2=0.90). Antimicrobial activity was highest on gram +ve organisms B. cereus, S. aureus, M. kristine and S. pyrogens (MIC value <1.0mg/ml). Gram-ve S. pooni and P. aeruginosa (MIC value ≤2.0mg/ml). The results of this study attributed the antioxidant potential of L. cupanioides leaf extract to its strong proton donating ability and justified its use for the treatment of bacterial infections in ethnomedicine.

Acknowledgements: NRF, South Africa, and University of Lagos, Nigeria.