PHYTOCHEMICAL, PHYSICOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND TOXICITY STUDIES OF TWO EXTRACTS OF CHAMAECRISTA ROTUNDIFOLIA (PERS.) GRENNE

Abstract

With a view of promoting Togolese traditional medicine through the revaluation of medicinal endogenous knowledge, phytochemical studies of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of the leafy stem of Chamaecrista rotundifoliawere carried out. Studies of the antioxidant/anti-radical activity and of the extracts safety were undertaken.Then, 4 main minerals were quantified in the plants powder. The aqueous (10 mg/mL) and hydroethanolic (5 mg/mL) extracts presentedan anti-radical activity with Inhibitory concentration 50 percent (IC50) respectively 3.15 1 mg/mL and 2.121 mg/mL against Vitamin C, IC50 =0.1 (1mg/mL). Results of the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power test showed an activity of these extracts doses respectively with a ferric reduction rate of 21.73% and 22.27% compared to VitaminC (2 mg/mL) = 80.72%. About the toxicological level, the lethal concentrations 50 percentobtained on shrimp larvae of Artemia salina respectively 0.68 ± 0.02 mg/mL and 0.13 ± 0.01 mg /mL of aqueous and hydroethanolic extractswere greater than 0.1 mg/mL indicating that the extracts, at these concentrations, are not cytotoxic. Furthermore, at a single limit dose of 2000 mg/kg/body weight, these extracts are not toxic to the Wistar rat. Phytochemistry and physicochemistry revealed respectively the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and of Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc at various rates. This study showed that Chamaecrista rotundifoliais rich in phytochemical compoundsandvital minerals. Itsaqueous and hydroethanolic extractshave low free-radical and anti-radical activities,then they are non-toxic at the doses studied. Additional studies are needed for future foundations of phytomedicines formulation.