**2.3 Chemical reagents**

132 Macro to Nano Spectroscopy

*Anogeissus leiocarpus* (DC.) Guill. et Perrot (Combretaceae), *Cissus populnea* Guill. et Perr. (Vitidaceae), *Mitragyna inermis* (Willd.) O. Ktze. (Rubiaceae), *Terminalia macroptera* Guill. et Perrott (Combretaceae), *Vepris heterophylla* R. Let. (Rutaceae) and *Zizyphus mucronata* Willd. (Rhamnaceae). These plants were selected for their traditional used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as: malaria, oedema, arthritis, rheumatism, ulcer, gingivitis, conjunctivitis (Burkill, 2000; Malgras, 1992; Arbonnier, 2002; Inngjerdingen et al., 2004). Vonthron-Sénécheau et *al*., (2003) reported the *in vitro* antiplasmodial activity of the extracts of the leaves of *Anogeissus leiocarpus*. Geidam et al., (2004) reported evidence-proved similar effects of the aqueous stem bark extract from *Cissus populnea* on some serum enzymes in alloxane induced diabetic rats. They have attributed hypoglycaemic properties to these extracts. Aqueous extract from *Mitragyna inermis* has been used by traditional healers for the treatment of various diseases, particularly for hepatic illness, malaria and hypertention. Recently, studies by Ouédraogo et *al*., (2004) demonstrated the hypotensive, cardiotropic and vasodilatory properties of bark aqueous extract from *Mitragyna inermis*. To identify new antimalarial compounds, Conrad et *al*. (1998) selected *Terminalia macroptera* for an antiplasmodial screening. Moulis et al., (1994) studied the volatile constituents of the leaves of *Vepris heterophylla*. They found that among thirty-three compounds – that were identified by capillary GC – the main constituents were geijerene and pregeijerene. Recently, Mølgaard et *al.,* (2001) reported good activity of the extracts of root bark from *Zyzyphus mucronata* which were tested *in vitro* against tapeworms and

To our knowledge, there are no previous reports concerning *in vitro* antioxidant activities of these plant part extracts. The purposes of this study were to determine the total phenolic and the total flavonoid contents, to evaluate their antioxidant activities using 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) tests, and finally to identify and to quantify some polyphenolic compounds by using a RP-

Professor N'Golo Diarra performed the plant taxonomy in the "Departement of Traditional Medecine" in Bamako, and voucher specimens were deposited in its herbarium as *Anogeissus leiocarpus* (DC.) Guill. et Perrot (Combretaceae) Ref. N° 1559, *Cissus populnea* Guill. et Perr. (Vitidaceae) Ref. N°1368, *Mitragyna inermis* (Willd.) O. Ktze. (Rubiaceae) Ref. N°1394, *Terminalia macroptera* Guill. et Perrott (Combretaceae) Ref. N°1617, *Vepris heterophylla* R. Let. (Rutaceae) Ref. N°2444 and *Zizyphus mucronata* Willd. (Rhamnaceae) Ref. N°2499. The plant material was collected around the district of

The HPLC analyses were performed with a Waters 600E coupled to a Waters 486 UV visible tunable detector (SPD-M10Avp) and a Reverse Phases C18 symmetry analytical Alltech Intertsil ODS- 5 µm 4.6mm x 150 mm column. In addition, spectrophotometer analyses were

carried out with a Cary 50 scan UV- Visible apparatus (UV Mini 1240).

schistosomules.

HPLC coupled to an UV detector.

**2. Materials and methods** 

Bamako in December 2005.

**2.2 Apparatus** 

**2.1 Plant material** 

Standards: catechin and gallic acid, 3,4 dihydroxybenzoic acid (protocatechuic acid), chlorogenic acid, rutin were purchased from Across Organics (France). *p*-coumaric acid, isovitexin and quercetin 3-ß-D-glucoside were obtained from Fluka Chemical Company (France).

Aluminium chloride (AlCl3), ascorbic acid, 2-2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), PBS buffer, 2-2'-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dichloride (AAPH), Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagent, sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), caffeic acid and sodium nitrite (NaNO2), stable free radical DPPH were purchased from Sigma Chemical Company (France). All commercial standards and reagents were of the highest analytical grade.
