Tylosema esculentum extractives and their bioactivity
Ofentse Mazimba1, Runner R T Majinda, Ceciliah Modibedi
1Department of Chemistry, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
|August 5, 2011
Summary
Tylosema esculentum (Morama) husks and tubers contain various compounds with antioxidant and some antimicrobial properties. Husk extracts show significant radical scavenging activity and high phenolic content, but limited cytotoxic effects.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Pharmacognosy
Background:
- Tylosema esculentum, commonly known as Morama bean, is an underutilized legume with potential medicinal properties.
- Traditional uses suggest Morama possesses various health benefits, necessitating scientific investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize chemical constituents from Tylosema esculentum.
- To evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of the plant extracts.
Main Methods:
- Phytochemical analysis involving NMR, HR-TOF EIMS, IR, UV-vis, and GC-MS spectroscopy.
- In vitro assays for DPPH radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity against cell lines.
Main Results:
- Isolation of 12 compounds including griffonilide, gallic acid, β-sitosterol, and kaempferol derivatives.
- Morama husk extracts exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging activity (>90%) and high total phenolic content (233 mg GAE/g).
- Extracts showed limited antimicrobial activity and low cytotoxicity against tested cell lines (IC50 >400 μg/mL).
Conclusions:
- Tylosema esculentum is a rich source of bioactive compounds, particularly in its husks.
- The husk extracts possess notable antioxidant properties attributed to their high phenolic content.
- Further research is warranted to explore the therapeutic potential and optimize the utilization of Morama bean.