title: Isolation and Chemical Structural Characterisation of a Compound with Antioxidant Activity from the Roots of Senna italica.
abstract: Senna italica, a member of the Fabaceae family (subfamily Caesalpiniaceae), is widely used in South African traditional medicine to treat a number of disease conditions. Aqueous extracts of the plant are mainly used to treat sexually transmitted infections and intestinal complications. The roots of S. italica were ground to a fine powder and sequentially extracted with n-hexane, dichloromethane, acetone, and methanol using serial exhaustive extraction (SEE) method. Thin layer chromatography was used to analyse the phytochemical composition of the extracts and DPPH radical scavenging method to detect the presence of antioxidant compounds. The bioassay guided fractionation of the acetone fraction afforded an antioxidant compound with free radical scavenging activity. The isolated compound was subsequently identified as 3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene (resveratrol). This study represents the first report of the stilbene resveratrol in S. italica.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
authors.forename: Matlou Phineas
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mokgotho
authors.forename: Stanley Sechene
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gololo
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Masoko
authors.forename: Ladislaus Kakore
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Mdee
authors.forename: Vusi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mbazima
authors.forename: Leshwene Jeremiah
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Shai
authors.forename: Victor Patrick
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Bagla
authors.forename: Jacobus Nicolaas
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Eloff
authors.forename: Leseilane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mampuru