Abstract
BackgroundCarpobrotus edulis (Mesembryanthemaceae), also known as igcukuma in Xhosa language is a medicinal plant used by the traditional healers to treat common infections in HIV/AIDS patients. Based on this information, we researched on the plant phytoconstituents, as well as its inhibitory effect using aqueous and three different organic solvent extracts in order to justify its therapeutic usage.MethodsAntioxidant activity of the extracts were investigated spectrophotometrically against 1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) diammonium salt, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and ferric reducing power, Total phenols, flavonoids, flavonols, proanthocyanidins, tannins, alkaloids and saponins were also determined using the standard methods.ResultsQuantitative phytochemical analysis of the four solvent extracts revealed a high percentage of phenolics (55.7 ± 0.404%) in the acetone extract, with appreciable amount of proanthocyanidins (86.9 ± 0.005%) and alkaloids (4.5 ± 0.057%) in the aqueous extract, while tannin (48.9 ± 0.28%) and saponin (4.5 ± 0.262%) were major constituents of the ethanol extract. Flavonoids (0.12 ± 0.05%) and flavonols (0.12 ± 0.05%) were found at higher level in the hexane extract in comparison with the other extracts. The leaf extracts demonstrated strong hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, with the exception of water and ethanol extracts. IC50 values of the aqueous and ethanolic extract against DPPH, ABTS, and NO were 0.018 and 0.016; 0.020 and 0.022; 0.05 and 0.023 mg/ml, respectively. The reducing power of the extract was found to be concentration dependent.ConclusionThe inhibitory effect of the extracts on free radicals may justify the traditional use of this plant in the management of common diseases in HIV/AIDs patients in Eastern Cape Province. Overall, both aqueous and ethanol were found to be the best solvents for antioxidant activity in C. edulis leaves.
Highlights
Carpobrotus edulis (Mesembryanthemaceae), known as igcukuma in Xhosa language is a medicinal plant used by the traditional healers to treat common infections in HIV/AIDS patients
Aqueous and ethanol were found to be the best solvents for antioxidant activity [18]
Phytochemical screening Qualitiative phytochemical analysis of the C. edulis leaf extracts revealed the presence of secondary metabolites in aqueous, ethanol, acetone and hexane extracts (Table 1)
Summary
Carpobrotus edulis (Mesembryanthemaceae), known as igcukuma in Xhosa language is a medicinal plant used by the traditional healers to treat common infections in HIV/AIDS patients. Living cells are known to generate free radicals reactive oxygen species (ROS) through physiological and biochemical processes in the body system [1,2,3]. Dietary antioxidant from food intake, such as vitamin E, selenium and polyphenols like green tea has been reported to decrease the adverse effects of free radicals [4]. They act as scavengers by donating one of their own electrons in order to replace the stolen electron from free radicals [4]. Several standard established antioxidant drugs such as butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and rutin have been reported to be toxic to living cells [5,6,7]. BHT drugs, are known to be the most prevalent and approved antioxidant scavengers worldwide, have been reported to be toxic to the lungs, even at a lower concentration [5,6,7]
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