PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIOXIDANT AND CYTOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITIES OF FRUITS PULP EXTRACTS FROM ADANSONIA DIGITATA L. (BOMBACACEAE) AND ZIZIPHUS MAURITIANA LAM. (RHAMNACEAE)

This current investigation was designed to assess in-vitro the ability of the extract to prevent free radical-induced oxidative cell damages. Fibroblasts were exposed to hydrogen peroxide and treated with gradual concentrations of ethanol and dichloromethane fruits pulp extracts from Adansonia digitata and Ziziphus mauritiana. The cell viability was measured after 24h of treatment by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Moreover, the capacity of extracts to scavenge free radicals was evaluated by using the DPPH and ABTS models. The polyphenol contents of extracts were also quantified by spectrophotometry. All extracts in a concentration between 100 and 400 µg/mL didn’t exhibit any cytotoxic effects on fibroblasts compared to the vehicle (p >0.05). However, extracts showed interesting cytoprotective activity against the hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative cell damage. The cytotoxic effects of the hydrogen peroxide were completely suppressed by adding the extracts of A. digitata. The ethanol extract of A. digitatas showed the best free radical quenching activities on DPPH radical (IC₅₀ = 28.78 ± 4.97 µg/mL) and ABTS radical (IC₅₀ =25.29 ± 2.27 µg/mL) as well as the highest phenolic content (11 728.07 ± 194.57mg GAE/100 g). The dichloromethane extract of A. digitata showed the highest flavonoid content (196.32 ± 15.49mg QE/100 g). All these findings suggested that the consumption of fruits of A. digitata and Z. mauritiana could prevent oxidative stress related-chronic diseases, probably due to their high polyphenol contents.