Phytochemistry, anti-radical and antimicrobial activities of Sarcocephalus latifolius leaves, used in Benin to treat urinary tract infections

Abstract

Infectious diseases are a significant public health concern. To deal with antibiotic resistance, high costs and difficulties in accessing synthetic drugs, medicinal plants constitute a potential source. This study aims to valorize Sarcocephalus latifolius through the identification of its secondary metabolites and the evaluation of the antiradical and antimicrobial activities of its leaves. After the determination of secondary metabolites by the coloring and precipitation reactions, the contents of phenolic compounds were determined by the spectrophotometer. The antiradical and antimicrobial activities were evaluated respectively by the DPPH and Agar diffusion methods. According to the results obtained, the leaves of Sarcocephalus latifolius contain catechic tannins, saponosides, flavonoids, leuco an-thocyanins, coumarins, mucilages, sterols and terpenes. The total phenolic content is 85.97mgGAE/gEx with a total flavonoid content of 13.26mgQE/gEx and 9.19 mgEL/gEx for the total tannin content. The concentration of the hydroethanolic extract of this plant allowing 50% of the DPPH free radical to be trapped is 0.660 mg/mL. From 16 microbial strains tested, the hydroethanolic extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius leaves showed interesting antimicrobial activity against 14 strains with CMBs varying from one strain to another. This extract showed a broader spectrum of activity than the two synthetic antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin) used in this study