Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Potential of Byrsanthus brownii Guill

Byrsanthus brownii Guill (Salicaceae) is a plant used in traditional Congolese medicine to treat malarial fevers, amoebic dysentery, high blood pressure, physical and sexual asthenia. Objective: This work aimed to determine the chemical profiles and then evaluate the antioxidant activity of extracts from different parts of Byrsanthus brownii Guill. Methods: The extracts were obtained by maceration in methanol. The contents of total polyphenols and total flavonoids were determined respectively by the Folin-ciocalteu reagent and by aluminum trichloride and sodium nitrite. The chemical profiles were determined by LC-MS/MS. The antiradical activity was evaluated by trapping the free radical DPPH. Results: The total polyphenol contents obtained are 288.87 ± 0.14 mgEAG/g.Ms (root barks), 271.12 ± 0.12 mgEAG/g.Ms (trunk barks) and 174.77 ± 0.17 mgEAG/g.Ms (leaves). The total flavonoid contents are 104.09 ± 0.03 mgEQ/gMs (trunk barks), 85.50 ± 0.01 mgEQ/gMs (root barks) and 34.20 ± 0.01 mgEQ/gMs (leaves). Several compounds have been identified in Byrsanthus brownii extracts such as citric acid, tachioside, scutellarin, dihydroammiol glucoside, apigenin-o-glucuronide, lanceoloside A isomer, kaempferol, kaempferide, and acacetin. The antioxidant activity is better in trunk barks (IC50= 141.53 μg/mL) and in root barks (IC50 = 154.06 μg/mL). Conclusion: Extracts of the trunk and roots bark of Byrsanthus brownii showed interesting antioxidant potential related to their chemical profiles.