Abstract
The bark of Parkia biglobosa is used in traditional medicine to cure a wide range of illnesses. Polysaccharides were extracted from the bark with 50% ethanol–water, 50°C and 100°C water, and seven active fractions obtained by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The complement fixation and macrophage stimulating activities of the different fractions were determined. The acidic fractions PBEII-I and PBEII-IV were the most active in the complement fixation assay, but the other fractions were also potent compared to the positive control BPII from Biophytum petersianum. Fractions PBEII-I and PBEII-IV were also the most potent fractions in stimulating macrophages to release nitric oxide. Structural studies showed that PBEII-I and PBEII-IV were pectic type polysaccharides, containing arabinogalactan type II structures. The observed differences in biological activities among the seven purified polysaccharide sub-fractions are probably due to differences in monosaccharide compositions, linkage types and molecular sizes.
Highlights
1.1 Traditional MedicineTraditional medicines include herbal medicines composed of herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations, and finished herbal products, that contain as active ingredients parts of plants, or other plant materials, or combinations thereof
This study aimed to investigate the inhibition of the activities of α-glucosidase, 15-lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase, DPPH scavenging activity, complement fixation activity and brine shrimp toxicity of different extracts obtained by boiling water extraction (BWE) and by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) (Accelerated solvent extraction) with ethanol, ethanol-water and water as extractants from different plant parts of T. macroptera. 27 different crude extracts were obtained by BWE and ASE from root bark, stem bark and leaves of T. macroptera
The higher yield and biological activities of fractions obtained from the 50% ethanol-water extract suggests that this extract could be more related to the medicinal activity than the 50oC and 100oC water extracts. 27 different crude extracts were obtained by BWE and ASE from root bark, stem bark and leaves of T. macroptera
Summary
1.1 Traditional MedicineTraditional medicines include herbal medicines composed of herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations, and finished herbal products, that contain as active ingredients parts of plants, or other plant materials, or combinations thereof. Traditional medicines may use animal parts and/or minerals (WHO, 2002). They are used in every country in the world, and have been relied upon to support, promote, retain and regain human health for millennia (Li et al, 2008; Shi, et al, 2009; Sucher et al, 2008; Upton, 1999). In Mali, like many African countries 75% of the population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care (Imperato, 1981; WHO, 2002). Flavonoids [6–8], triterpenoids [9,10], ellagitannins [11] and related phenolics [3,9,12], have been identified from different parts of T. macroptera. Water decoctions of T. macroptera, administered orally, are the most common preparations used by the traditional healers in Mali [1]. It was of interest to investigate the bioactive polysaccharides from water extracts of T. macroptera
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