PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF SECONDARY METABOLITES IN AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF FICUS THONNINGII BLUME TESTED ON WISTAR RATS

Estella Tembe Fokunang, Jessica Ketchemen Pougoue, Borgia Njunkio, Joseph Ngoupayo, Palmer Masumbe Netongo, Patrice Mimche, Donatien Gatsing and Charles Ntungwen Fokunang*

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Traditional medicine methods have had a very long history to treat every sort of health disorder. The World Health Organization estimates that around 80 % of the world population in developing countries relies on traditional plant medicines for primary health care needs, of which a major proportion corresponds to plant extracts or their active principles. Plants and herbs have been used since ancient times to treat different gastrointestinal illnesses, including peptic ulcers. Objective: To identify the major classes of secondary metabolites and evaluate the antioxidant property of the aqueous extracts of Ficus thonningii. Methods: The phytochemical screening of the extracts was done using the Odebiyi and Sofowora method. Various biochemical parameters such as the Malondialdehyde (MDA), Catalase, Glutathione, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Xanthine Oxidase (XO), were quantified using standard regulatory techniques. Results: The phytochemical screening of the extract of the F. thonningii stem bark showed the presence of the sapononins, quinones, coumarins, catechic tannins, phlobotanins, anthocyanins, flavonoids and betacyanes. The extract resulted in a non-significant increase of SOD, Catalase and glutathione in the preventive and curative activity. There was a dose-dependent significant decrease in MDA P<0.05. The MDA content was higher in the group receiving the extract 500 mg/Kg, omeprazole and healthy animals, but lower in the negative control group. Conclusion:The phytochemical screening of the extract of the bark showed the presence of the saponins, quinones, coumarins, catechic tannins, phlobotanins, anthocyanin, polyphenols, flavonoïds and betacyanes. The extract resulted in a non-significant increase of SOD, Catalase and glutathione with a dose dependent decrease in MDA. The administration of this extract with 2000 mg/Kg dose was well tolerated with no lethality observed.

Keywords: Ficus thonningii stem bark hydro-ethanolic extract, phytochemical screening, anti-oxidant, antacid, herbal medicine.