Phenolic compounds characterization and antioxidant activities of selected spices from Cameroon

Abstract

Methanol extracts of five spices from Cameroon were analyzed for their phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities. The Xylopia aethiopica extract with the highest total phenolics and flavonoids contents showed a strongest antioxidant activity compared to tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) using both the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-diammonium salt (ABTS) radicals scavenging assay. The identification and quantification of major phenolics acids and flavonoids was carried out by HPLC-DAD. T-cinnamic acid and ferulic acid was the phenolic acids mainly distributed within the methanolic extracts analyzed. Sinapic acid was identified at low concentration only in Ricinodendron heudelotii. The common flavonoids catechin and epicatechin were detected with highest concentration in Xylopia aethiopica extract. Eugenol was identified at high concentration (125.39–1326.29 μg/g) in all extracts. The results of the present study suggest that the extracts analyzed, particularly Xylopia aethiopica and Aframomum citratum are potential sources of natural antioxidants agents.