Laboratoire d’Architecture, d’Analyse et Réactivité des Substances Naturelles (LAARSN) Faculté des Sciences, Université de Bangui, BP908 Bangui, Central African Republic
Introduction: Cola urceolata K. Schum is a plant of the Sterculiaceae family of the genus Cola. It is a species widely used in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties and in food as a nutrient.
Objectives: As part of the valuation of medicinal plants from the Central African Republic, the interest of this study is focused on ethnobotanical surveys, phytochemical analyzes and the antioxidant activity (DPPH) of Cola urceolata K. Schum.
Methods: For the extraction, four solvents of different polarities (Cyclohexane: CYHA; Dichloromethane: DCM; Ethyl Acetate: EtOAc; Methanol: MeOH) were performed. Phytochemical tests were based on color reactions and chromatographic analyzes. The 96-well plate reader was used for quantitative analyzes of polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids and anthocyanins.
Results: The results of the extraction showed that the methanol extract has the best yield of 8.21% followed by the cyclohexane extract 3.88%. The polyphenol content was better than the other quantified compounds. It varies between 8.90 ± 1.06 and 15.09 ± 1.58mg of gallic acid equivalent (EqAG). Qualitative screening showed the presence of alkaloids, anthocyanins, sterols and triterpenes. The inhibition of DPPH by the different extracts gave mean values which varied between 4.65±2.85 and 15.17±4.60%. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) carried out using the «FactoMineR» and «factoextra» packages of the R software circle of correlation of variables.
Conclusion: The phytochemical screening confirms the presence of certain molecules which can confer on Cola urceolata K. Schum its therapeutic virtues.