Study of the Effect of Three Extraction Processes on the Phytoactives of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) and Evaluation of their Antioxidant and Analgesic Activities

Aims: An important aspect of the valorization of plants of interest is the search for phytoactives. This work aims to show the effect of extractive processes (maceration, decoction, Soxhlet extraction) both on the phytoconstituents of a plant species and on their intrinsic properties.

Methodology: Alchornea cordifolia, a botanical species growing in Côte d'Ivoire, was chosen for this purpose. Phytophenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins were quantified by spectrophotometry. Antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP) and analgesic activity were also evaluated.

Results: The quantitative analysis of total phytophenols, total flavonoids and condensed tannins of macerated, decocted and Soxhlet extracts of the plant organs (leaves, stems, roots), highlighted their respective contents, varying proportionally according to the extraction conditions. The same observation was made at the end of the estimation of the antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP tests) and analgesic activities of these different extraction fractions.

Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the effect of three extraction processes on some phytoactives quantified of A. cordifolia.