Abstract
Spathodea campanulata is used in traditional medicine in Africa as diuretic and anti-inflammatory. Although few studies have reported the mechanism of antioxidant action, this study evidenced the antioxidant activity of S. campanulata bark and flower extracts and their possible mechanism of action. Ethanol extracts of S. campanulata bark and flowers showed antioxidant activity on lipid peroxidation of liver microsome induced by Fe3+-ascorbic acid. Bark extract was 5 times more efficient than flower extract. The antioxidant activity of flower extract, previously complexed with increasing concentrations of Fe3+ (20 - 100 μM) which resulted in antioxidant activity loss, was shown to be related to iron complex formation. In contrast, the antioxidant activity of bark extract was not inhibited by the previous incubation with Fe3+, although complexation was demonstrated by spectral analysis of the solution. These results suggest an antioxidant mechanism other than Fe3+ complex formation. Therefore, the antioxidant mechanisms of S. campanulata flower and bark extracts are distinct from each other, reflecting the extract heterogeneous composition and the mechanism of action.
Highlights
The species Spathodea campanulata P.Beauv. belongs to the family Bignoniaceae and is native to equatorial Africa
Flavonoids have been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation and to protect tissue from the damage caused by oxygen reactive species (Laughton et al, 1989; Afanas‘Ev et al, 1989), and phenolic compounds usually work as inhibitors of the lipid peroxidation chain reaction (Charami et al, 2008)
A large number of studies have been conducted in order to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of phenolic compounds (Kook et al, 2008; Koleckar et al, 2008), though few discuss possible mechanisms of their antioxidant activity
Summary
Belongs to the family Bignoniaceae and is native to equatorial Africa It is often used in gardening in tropical and subtropical areas, including South America (Joly, 1985). This species is largely used in traditional medicine; its flowers are used as diuretic and anti-inflammatory, while its leaves are used against kidney diseases, urethra inflammation and as antidote against animal venoms. Its flower and stem bark extracts have shown molluscicidal activity (Mendes et al, 1986). Phytochemical studies were performed with different parts of S. campanulata, including stem barks, leaves, flowers and fruits. The possible metal chelating and/or complexation effects of Spathodea campanulata flower and bark ethanol extracts were investigated for their possible antioxidant mechanisms
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