Abstract Background: Garcinia lucida, known as “ESSOK” in Ewondo (Cameroon), is distributed in the tropical zones of West Africa and in the continental region of Equatorial Guinea, specifically in Gabon and Cameroon. Its seeds and trunk bark are used to treat various gastric and intestinal disorders and thus can serve as an antacid. A decoction of fruit and leaves is used in the manufacture of many traditional curries to treat many ailments.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profile and the antioxidant and antihemolytic activities of the leaves and trunk bark of Garcinia lucida Vesque (Clusiaceae).
Methods: We determined the antioxidant, antihemolytic and total phenolic content, and performed phytochemical screening of leaf and trunk bark extracts of Garcinia lucida using standard procedures.
Results: With the exception of steroids, polyphenols, anthocyanes, saponins and tannins were present in all the extracts. The aqueous bark extract had the highest total polyphenol content (468 mg/g) followed by the ethanol leaf extract (445 mg/g) with the ethanol bark extract having the least (10 mg/g).The results of the antioxidant properties showed that at the concentration of 250 μg/ml, between 56.65 and 61.61% of DPPH (2,2 diphenyl-1-pycrilhydrazyl) radicals were inhibited by the extracts and the extracts showed appreciable FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) activity. The 50% Inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranged from 40.83 ± 0.5 to 94.020 ± 0.7 μg/ml, depending on the type of extracts. The results indicated that all extracts exhibited antioxidant properties and antihemolytic activity with a percent inhibition ranging from 21.32 to 100% from 500 to 250 μg/ml with no significant difference in biochemical and hematologic parameters compared to the control. The cytotoxicity test carried out at concentrations ranging from 125 to 500 μg / ml showed that the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract, the hydro-ethanolic bark extract and the ethanol bark extract were not toxic to the red blood cell membrane and exerted a protective effect on the erythrocyte membrane (antihemolytic effect) against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide.
Conclusions: The extracts of Garcinia lucida presents potential antioxidant properties (a good ability to scavenge DPPH radical and to reduce ferric oxide). The hydro-ethanolic leaf extract, the hydro-ethanolic bark extract and the ethanol bark extract were non-cytotoxic whereas the ethanol leaf extract and aqueous bark extract were cytotoxic on the Vero cell The high total polyphenol content the extracts of Garcinia lucida provides this plant with pharmacological properties thereby supporting its traditional use for the relief of various diseases.
Keywords Antioxidants, Reducing power, Free radicals, antihemolytic, Polyphenols, Garcinia lucida.