Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Aucoumea klaineana, Macaranga monandra and Uvaria klainei from Gabon

Aims: Plant-based medicine is utilized as an alternative therapy against various ailments and diseases, especially in developing countries. Aucoumea klaineana, Macaranga monandra and Uvaria Klainei are used to alleviate many ailments in Gabon and few data on the potential biological activities are available.

Study Design: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, the in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of these plants.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Phytochemistry (Institute of Pharmacopoeia and Traditional Medicine), between March 2022 and February 2023.

Methodology: The plant dried powders were extracted using distilled water and absolute methanol. Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed, followed by the determination of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH method and reducing power assay. The cytotoxicity was assessed using dual staining and fluorescence microscopy technique.

Results: The qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, flavonoids and steroids in all the extracts. The highest TFC and TPC were determined in M. monandra methanolic extracts (2.26±0.06 mg QE/g and 12.04±0.4mg GAE/g). M. monandra and A. Klaineana methanol extracts (115.00±0.67 µg/ml and 131.9±1.31 µg/ml respectively) showed a statistically (p<0.05) higher reducing power than the ascorbic acid. A. klaineana methanolic extract IC50 (15.21±2.11 µg/ml) was significantly greater (p<0.05) than the standard. All the plant extracts lowered the number of HeLa cells of more than 50%.

Conclusion: Okoume and U. klainei showed promising antioxidant capacity. The antiproliferative activity and selective cytotoxicity of M. monandra towards HeLa cell have to be extendedly explored and could lead to the isolation of anti-cancerous agents.