Abstract
BackgroundIn South Africa, Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth is used to destroy lice and to relieve itches, to destroy maggots and to treat allergic rashes, particularly those caused by caterpillars. Antioxidants play an important role protecting against damage by reactive oxygen species. Plants containing flavonoids have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties.MethodsThe antibacterial, antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of the methanol extracts of the leaves and stems of Calpurnia aurea were evaluated using in vitro standard methods. Spectrophotometry was the basis for the determinations of total phenol, total flavonoids, flavonols, and proanthocyanidins. Tannins, quercetin and catechin equivalents were used for these parameters. The antioxidant activities of the stem extract of Calpurnia aurea were determined by ABTS, DPPH, and ferrous reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) methods. Laboratory isolates of 10 bacteria species which included five Gram-positive and five Gram-negative strains were used to assay for antibacterial activity of this plant.ResultsThe results from this study showed that the antioxidant activities of the stem extract of Calpurnia aurea as determined by the total phenol, flavonoids, and FRAP methods were higher than that of the leaves. On the other hand, the leaf extract of the plant has higher level of total flavonols and proanthocyanidins. The leaf extract also has higher radical scavenging activity as shown in 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2¿-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay. The leaf extract showed activity against seven of the bacterial organisms.ConclusionThe results from this study indicate that the leaves and stem extracts of Calpurnia aurea possess antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavenger or, acting possibly as primary antioxidants. Although, the antibacterial properties of Calpurnia aurea are not as effective as the standard drugs- Chloramphenicol and Streptomycin, they still possess some activity against bacterial strains used in this study. Calpurnia aurea may therefore be a good candidate for functional foods as well as pharmaceutical plant-based products.
Highlights
In South Africa, Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth is used to destroy lice and to relieve itches, to destroy maggots and to treat allergic rashes, those caused by caterpillars
Flavonoids and proanthocyanidin contents Results obtained in the present study revealed that the level of these phenolic compounds in the methanol extracts of the leaves and stem of C. aurea were considerable
DPPH radical scavenging activity Figure 1 shows the dose-response curve of DPPH radical scavenging activity of the methanolic extracts of the leaves and stem of C. aurea, compared with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid
Summary
In South Africa, Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth is used to destroy lice and to relieve itches, to destroy maggots and to treat allergic rashes, those caused by caterpillars. The genus Calpurnia (Leguminosae) comprises some seven species which are widely distributed in South Africa. The leaves and twigs of Ethiopian C. aurea yielded 13-hydroxylupanine. The South African species yielded the well known alkaloids: hydroxylupanine, calpurnine, virgiline and its pyrrolylcarboxylic acid ester as found in Ethiopian sample. The alkaloid 10, 13-dihydroxylupanine was found in CH2Cl2 extract of the pods. This compound having a MW of 280 and occurring in Cadia purpurea was absent from the Ethiopian species. Two alkaloids (calpurmenine and 13-2'-pyrrolylcarboxyl) calpurmenine), present in the South African material were isolated from the extracts of leaves and pods [1,2,3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
