Appraisal of solvent system effect on bioactivity profiling of Cordia africana stem bark extracts

Alemayehu Mekonnen, Yilkal Degu and Rolf Carlson

Abstract

Phytochemicals and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Cordia africana stem bark were evaluated. Four different solvent systems were used for extraction and the evaluation of all chemical components, antioxidant and antibacterial activities were made following established methodologies. The antioxidant activity was determined using free radical scavenging and 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reduction assays. The phytochemical screening study on the methanol extracts revealed the presence of different plant constituents such as alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins terpenoids and saponins. All the extracts had significant (P<0.05) antioxidant activity. DPPH radical scavenging activity ranging from 87.76 % (90 % methanol) to 22.94 % (chloroform) and FRAP values varied between 75.42 (90 % methanol) to 31.22 mg AAE/100g (chloroform). Antibacterial activity evaluation of methanolic extract from C. africana bark was carried out using four different bacterial strains. However, the extracts tested did not show clinically relevant antibacterial activity. All crude extracts significantly inhibited oxidation. The results support the use of C. africana leaves in traditional medicine to treat several human aliments.