IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THREE CAMEROONIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS USED TO MANAGE PARASITIC DISEASES

Summary Aqueous and methanol-methylene chloride extracts of Schumaniophyton magnificum, Rauvolfia vomitoria and Pseudospondias microcarpa were screened for phytochemical constituents. Tests for saponines, phenols, Terpenoids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and coumarines were positive in both methanol-methylene chloride and aqueous extracts, while anthraquinons and anthocyanins were absent in Schumaniophyton magnificum. The antioxidant potential of these plants were also evaluated using three different methods: FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power), DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2- Picrilhydrazyl) and Folin (FolinCiocalteu reagent). The aqueous and methanol-methylene chloride extracts of Pseudospondias microcarpa had the highest antioxidant activity ( P<0.05) follow by Rauvolfia vomitoria and Schumaniophyton magnificum.