Abstract

Erythrophleum africanum is an endangered West African medicinal plant because of the large-scale use of its stems as toothpicks. Phytochemical screening (preliminary test and thin layer chromatography (TLC) method), a quantitative analysis of total flavonoids, anthocyanidins and radical scavenging activity (2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)  method) of stems of E. africanum were undertaken. The study shows that the quantification of the phenolic compounds (flavonic aglycones and anthocyanidins) and the assessment of the antioxidant activity put in evidence that in spite of the weak percentage (0.05%) of total flavonoids in the stem of E. africanum, the flavonoids are responsible to 94.46% of its antioxidant propriety.

Key words: Erythrophleum africanum, total flavonoids, toothpick, antioxidant activity, 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).