Antioxydant and Antiplasmodial Activities of Extracts from Gardenia erubescence and Fadogia agrestis

Two medicinal plants, Gardenia erubescens and Fadogia agrestis were selected to evaluate their biological activities. Their total phenolic and flavonoid contents were assessed using folin-ciocalteu and aluminum chloride regents’ methods. The antioxidant activity was estimated using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2’-azinobis-[3-ethylenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power). The antiplasmodial activity of the extracts was determined in vivo on 42 NMRI mice. The results indicate that all the extracts from both two plants contain some polyphenols. The ethanolic extract of the leaves of Gardenia erubescens showed the best antioxidant activity by the method of DPPH. The aqueous extracts of the leaves of Gardenia erubescens and the whole plant of Fadogia agrestis have a reducing power similar to control (quercetin). All the extracts have a low capacity to scavenge the ABTS radical cation compared to the controls (trolox and quercetin). Concerning the antiplasmodial activity, all the extracts presented moderate antiplamodial activities. This result could justify the traditional uses of Gardenia erubescens and Fadogia agrestis to treat of malaria in Burkina Faso.