Abstract
Context: Cola gigantea A. Chev. (Sterculiaceae) is an important medicinal tropical flora.Objective: The seed oil of C. gigantea, an underutilized tropical plant was investigated for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Toxoplasma, and cytotoxicity activities as well as the chemical composition.Materials and methods: The physicochemical parameters of the seed oil obtained via Soxhlet extraction was determined while the fatty acid and non-fatty acid component were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays (10–50 µg/mL) while the anti-inflammatory property was determined through Cell Membrane Stabilization assay. The anti-parasite and cytotoxicity activity were evaluated (0–1000 µg/mL) using Toxoplasma gondii and mammalian cell line assays, respectively.Results: The oil had fatty acids which ranged from C-12 to C-23 with linoleic (18:2) and palmitic acids (16:0) being dominant. The oil had 89.41% unsaturated fatty acids with sterolic acid, an uncommon acetylenic fatty acid reported for the first time. Non-fatty acids obtained include cholesterol (2.12%), campesterol (14.12%), stigmasterol (34.07%) and β-sitosterol (49.68%). The oil had a significantly (p < 0.05) low scavenging activity against DPPH radicals (IC50 > 50 µg/mL) compared with ascorbic acid. In contrast, the oil showed better activity against ABTS radicals (IC50 44.19 ± 6.27 µg/mL) compared with ascorbic acid or quercetin. Furthermore, the oil showed anti-T. gondii and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in HFF cells with selectivity index (IC50/EC50 < 1).Discussion and conclusions: The antioxidant potential of the oil suggests that it may serve as a potential source for various preparations for pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals.
Highlights
The plant has other traditional relevance among which are the uses for increasing the capacity for physical exertion and enduring fatigue without food, stimulation of weak heart, and treating nervous debility, lack of emotion, depression, despondency, brooding, anxiety, and seasickness (Agyare et al 2012)
Phytochemical screening of the leaf extract indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, and cardenolides (Sonibare et al 2009)
These phytochemicals might be responsible for the observed medicinal properties of the plant
Summary
The mature fruit of Cola species is a nut known as Kolanut (Duke 2001). It is an ever-green moderately sized tree often growing to a height of 25 m with glossy ovoid leaves up to 25 cm. Phytochemical screening of the leaf extract indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, and cardenolides (Sonibare et al 2009). These phytochemicals might be responsible for the observed medicinal properties of the plant
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