Author(s):

Osman Adam Osman Adam, Ragaa Satti Mohmmed Abadi and Saad Mohamed Hussein Ayoub

Abstract: Sudanese plants show potential as a source of extracts rich in phenolic constituents and natural antioxidants. This study came with the objective to investigate the chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of some Sudanese medicinal plants, used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Using 96% ethanol as a solvent by means of soaking technique, extracts of fifteen Sudanese medicinal plants: whole plant, leaf, root, bark, and fruit were analyzed to determine their chemical constituents using conventional chemical tests where applicable. All the tested plants showed the presence of various secondary metabolites such as: tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, sterols, terpenes, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, alkaloids, carbohydrates, and reducing sugars. Cyanogenic glycoside were not detected. The antioxidant activity was investigated by measuring the scavenging activity of the DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical) radical scavenging method. The tested plants revealed promising sources of natural antioxidants for medicinal uses. The most active plants were: Euphorbia aegyptiaca, Euphorbia acalyphoides, Francoeuria crispa, Grewia tenax and Cissus quadrangular is.

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