Angolan Cymbopogon citratus used for therapeutic benefits: Nutritional composition and influence of solvents in phytochemicals content and antioxidant activity of leaf extracts

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2013-10, Vol.60, p.413-418
• Main Authors: Soares, Marta O., Alves, Rita C., Pires, Pedro C., Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P., Vinha, Ana F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alkaloids; antioxidant activity; Antioxidant activity assays; Antioxidants - analysis; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Ascorbic Acid - analysis; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; Bioactive compounds; Biological and medical sciences; carbohydrates; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Cymbopogon - chemistry; Cymbopogon citratus; ethanol; flavonoids; Flavonoids - analysis; Flavonoids - pharmacology; free radical scavengers; hydrogen peroxide; leaf extracts; leaves; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; methanol; nitric oxide; nutrient content; Nutritional value; Nutritive Value; Phytochemical screening; Phytochemicals - analysis; Phytochemicals - pharmacology; phytopharmaceuticals; Plant Extracts - analysis; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; screening; Solvents; Solvents - chemistry; steroids; tannins; Tannins - analysis; Tannins - pharmacology; terpenoids; Toxicology; traditional medicine
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.07.064

•Leaf extracts of Cymbopogon citratus from Angola have different phytochemical profiles according to the solvent used.•Ethanolic extracts contained more phenolics and flavonoids and higher total antioxidant activity.•Aqueous extracts showed the highest ferric reducing antioxidant power.•Methanolic extracts contained alkaloids and presented the lowest DPPH and NO radical scavenging activities. Folk medicine is a relevant and effective part of indigenous healthcare systems which are, in practice, totally dependent on traditional healers. An outstanding coincidence between indigenous medicinal plant uses and scientifically proved pharmacological properties of several phytochemicals has been observed along the years. This work focused on the leaves of a medicinal plant traditionally used for therapeutic benefits (Angolan Cymbopogon citratus), in order to evaluate their nutritional value. The bioactive phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of leaf extracts prepared with different solvents (water, methanol and ethanol) were also evaluated. The plant leaves contained ∼60% of carbohydrates, protein (∼20%), fat (∼5%), ash (∼4%) and moisture (∼9%). The phytochemicals screening revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and terpenoids in all extracts. Methanolic extracts also contained alkaloids and steroids. Several methods were used to evaluate total antioxidant capacity of the different extracts (DPPH, NO, and H2O2 scavenging assays, reducing power, and FRAP). Ethanolic extracts presented a significantly higher antioxidant activity (p