Abstract

IN VITRO ANTIPLASMODIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC AND HYDROETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF HYPTIS SUAVEOLENS

S. E. Medoatinsa, C. P. Agbangnan Dossa*, F. Viwami, G. S. R. Bogninou-Agbidinoukoun, J. P. Noudogbessi†, L. Lagnika, H. Ahissou, D. C. K. Sohounhloue

ABSTRACT

Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae) is a fragrant plant that smells peppermint when crushed. It’s being used in the tropical countries for its insect repellent power and scientific studies have confirmed this property as well as its antihelminthic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antifungal and antiplasmodial activities. Few studies have been conducted on the non-volatile extract and antiplasmodial power of this plant. The present study aims to assess "in vitro", antiplasmodial (semi-microtest of Rieckmann) and anti-radical activities of leaves of H. suaveolens from two localities of Benin. The phytochemical screening carried out prior to the evaluation of the biological activities revealed the presence of several metabolites, mainly phenolic compounds (tannins, flavonoids) that may be responsible for antiplasmodial and anti-radical properties observed during this study. The quantitative analysis of the polyphenols by spectrophotometry shows that the hydroethanolic extract (34.32 mg/g) is richer in these compounds than the ethanolic extract (3.98 mg/g) thus confirming theyield of extraction of phenolic compounds obtained (2.4% against 8% hydroethanolic extract). The extracts investigated contain compounds able to trap DPPH whose color changes from purple to yellow and are endowed with good antiplasmodial activity with an IC50 <6.25 μg/mL, the lowest concentration used during this study.

Keywords: Phenolic compounds; anti-radical; antiplasmodial, phytochemistry.