Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Properties and Antimicrobial Activities of the Extracts from Funtumia africana and Funtumia elastica
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Date
2021
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Springer
Abstract
Funtumia africana and Funtumia elastica belong to a group of invaluable plants used in managing a wide range of diseases
in West Africa. This study aimed at assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts of the stem bark of F.
africana and F. elastica. The dried, milled stem barks of F. africana and F. elastica were extracted with water and 70% ethanol
by cold maceration. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids, and tannins were
determined using standard methods. The extracts were tested against bacterial and fungal pathogens, namely; Staphylococcus
aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, and Candida albicans. The zone of
inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), activity index, and the total antimicrobial activity of the extracts on
the organisms were evaluated. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, reducing sugars,
anthocyanins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, quinones, tannins, and saponins. The ethanolic extract of F. elastica had the
highest phenolic flavonoid contents and total antioxidant capacity. A positive correlation was observed between TPC with
TAC (R = 0.893, p < 0.05) and TFC with TAC (R = 0.613, p < 0.05). The extracts were most active against E. coli and C.
albicans and least active against B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa. The data obtained from the study indicated that the barks of
the two plants possessed both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
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This article is published by Springer and is also available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-021-00249-5
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Chemistry Africa (2021) 4:503–512 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-021-00249-5