Effect of seasonal variations on the secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities of Bridelia ferruginea, Lippia multiflora, and Azadirachta indica leaves

Maxwell Mamfe Sakyiamah; Prince Kyei Baffour; Peter Atta-Adjei; Peter Bolah; Ebenezer Ehun; Christiana Opare; Henry Brew-Daniels; Alfred Ampomah Appiah

doi:10.5897/JPP2023.0624

Journal of
Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy

Abbreviation: J. Pharmacognosy Phytother.
Language: English
ISSN: 2141-2502
DOI: 10.5897/JPP
Start Year: 2009
Published Articles: 234

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of seasonal variations on the secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities of Bridelia ferruginea, Lippia multiflora, and Azadirachta indica leaves

Maxwell Mamfe Sakyiamah

Maxwell Mamfe Sakyiamah
Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana.
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Prince Kyei Baffour

Prince Kyei Baffour
Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana.
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Peter Atta-Adjei

Peter Atta-Adjei
Plant Development Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana.
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Peter Bolah

Peter Bolah
Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana.
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Ebenezer Ehun

Ebenezer Ehun
Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana.
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Christiana Opare

Christiana Opare
Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana.
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Henry Brew-Daniels

Henry Brew-Daniels
Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana.
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Alfred Ampomah Appiah

Alfred Ampomah Appiah
Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana.
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Article Number - 3435A4771924
Vol.16(1), pp. 1-13 , January 2024
https://doi.org/10.5897/JPP2023.0624

Accepted: 27 October 2023
Published: 31 March 2024

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the annual seasonal variations in Ghana on the phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties of the leaves of Bridelia ferruginea (BF), Lippia multiflora (LM), and Azadirachta indica (AI). The medicinal plants were collected at the end of each quarter from September 2021 to June 2022, representing four seasons. The phytochemical constituents of the samples were screened and quantified. The antioxidant properties of the samples were evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity. Thin layer chromatography and infrared profiling of the extracts were also analyzed, serving as fingerprint. From the results, total phenolic content (TPC) of BF, LM, and AI leaves were all highest in season 1. The total flavonoid, alkaloid and saponin contents in BF leaves were highest in season 4. The total flavonoid and saponin contents were highest in season 1 and season 3, respectively for LM, but highest in season 2 and season 4, respectively for AI. The antioxidant activity of BF, LM and AI were strongest for samples collected in season 1(45.70 mg/ml AAE), season 3 (20.39 mg/ml AAE) and season 4 (62.67 mg/ml AAE), respectively. All three samples (BF, LM and AI leaves) collected in season 2 showed the lowest antioxidant activity: 54.07 ± 2.92, 60.23 ± 4.14, and 115.15 ± 13.55 mg/ml AAE, respectively. From the study, the rainy seasons (major or minor) appear to generally favor the accumulation of the phytochemical constituents screened in this study, thus recommended as the suitable harvesting period for high yield of the phytochemical constituents.

Key words: Bridelia ferruginea, Lippia multiflora, Azadirachta indica, seasonal variations, phytochemical composition.

Abbreviation

TLC, Thin layer chromatography; GAE, gallic acid equivalent; AAE, ascorbic acid equivalent; QE, quercetin equivalent; CPMR, centre for Plant Medicine research; TPC, total phenolic content; R_f_, retention factor; FTIR, fourier-transform infrared; DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; BF, bridelia ferruginea; LM, Lippia multiflora; AI, azadirachta indica.