Chemical composition and bioactivity of Canarium schweinfurthii stem bark extracts from DR Congo against Sickle cell disease and associated bacteria

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Chemical composition and bioactivity of Canarium schweinfurthii stem bark extracts against Sickle cell disease and associated bacteria. The antisickling and antibacterial activities were carried out using Emmel and micro-dilution methods respectively. The results revealed that the stem bark of Canarium schweinfurthii contains various secondary metabolites such as the anthocyanins, flavonoids, tannins, quinones, saponins, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids and leuco-anthocyanins. The n-hexane (non-polar solvent) extract displayed poor yield than the extracts obtained in the polar solvents which have a high yield. Flavonoids were most concentrated in the methanol solvent whereas the anthocyanins were concentrated in acidified methanol while the tannins were concentrated in n-hexane (condensed tannins). The extraction yield of organic/triterpenoic acids (betulinic acid rich extract) was 0.75%. All tested extracts displayed antisickling activity. Organic acid extract was the most interesting with an ED50 equal to 12.5 µg/mL. While, the antibacterial activity of different plant extracts tested was weak toward tested bacterial strains (CMI>250 µg/mL). The antibacterial activity can be improved by bio-guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate or methanol soluble fraction. This study provides for the first time a scientific basis for the in vitro antisickling activity of C. schweinfurthii.