Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Organic and Mineral Composition of Seeds of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. and Evaluation of ROS Inhibition and Cytotoxicity of Isolated Compounds

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Chemistry Africa Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Considering the large consumption of Afrostyrax Lepidophyllus seeds, chemical analyses is necessary to ascertain its use as food spice and also its medicinal potential. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and gas chromatography mass spectrometry were used to evaluate the mineral and volatile contents respectively while column chromatography enabled the isolation of some compounds. Seventeen compounds were identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Amongst detected sulphur containing compounds, methylsulfinyl(methylthio) methane was in highest amount with percentage composition of 12.25%. Fatty acids and their methyl esters were most abundant constituents notably n-hexadecanoic acid (28.86%) and methyl (E)-9-octadecenoate (21.85%). Some important unsaturated fatty acids notably linoleic acid and oleic acid were identified. Major elements detected in the sample were sodium (42,137.57 ppb), magnesium (456.90 ppb), phosphorus (1703.31 ppb), potassium (4948.88 ppb) and calcium (88.37 ppb. Trace elements detected in the sample are Cr (0.81 ppb), Mn (5.66 ppb), Fe (107.08 ppb), Co (0.14 ppb), Ni (6.77 ppb), Cu (50.05 ppb), Zn (32.06 ppb) and B (6.65 ppb). Other detected elements involved Al (42.25 ppb) and Pb (2.63 ppb) while Cd and Hg were below detectable limits. Five compounds were isolated and identified from their NMR spectral data as tripalmitin (AL23), n-hexadecanoic acid (AL40-45), ursolic acid (AL65), stigmasterol glycoside (AL192) and saccharose (AS329). Ursolic acid showed moderate ROS inhibition with IC50 = 18.5 ± 3.1 µg/mL compared to 11.2 ± 1.9 µg/mL for ibuprofen. NO inhibition and cytotoxicity on NIH-3T3 cell lines were low for tested compounds. This study fills knowledge gap on chemical analyses of A. lepidophyllus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of Data

Data obtained and used in this study are available and can be obtained from the corresponding author upon request.

Abbreviations

DCM:

Dicholoromethane

EIMS:

Electronic impact mass spectrometry

HREIMS:

High resolution electronic impact mass spectrometry

MTT:

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide

GC-FID:

Gas chromatography flame ionization detector

GC–MS:

Gas chromatography mass spectrometry

NO:

Nitric oxide

ROS:

Reaction oxygen species

ICP-MS:

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

ppb:

Parts per billion

References

  1. Moukette BM, Constant AP, Prosper CNB, Vicky JAM, Eustace B, Jeanne YN (2015) Afrostyrax lepidophyllus extracts exhibit in vitro free radical scavenging, antioxidant potential and protective properties against liver enzymes ion mediated oxidative damage. BMC Res Notes. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-015-1304-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Namkona AF, Bolevane OSF, Moustapha F, Worowounga X, Ngaissona P, Koane JN, Syssa-Magalé JL (2017) Biological activities and phytochemical analysis of extracts Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. seeds. J Phytopharmacol 6(2):102–106

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fogang HP, Maggi F, Tapondjou LA, Womeni HM, Papa F, Quassinti L, Bramucci M, Vitalis LA, Petrelli D, Lupidi G, Vittori S, Barboni L (2014) In vitro biological activities of seed essential oils from the Cameroonian spices Afrostyrax lepidophyllus MILDBR and Scorodophloeus zenkeri HARMS rich in sulfur-containing compounds. Chem Biodivers 11:161–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Tchoupang EN, Ateba SB, Zingue S, Zehl M, Krenn L, Njamen D (2016) Estrogenic properties of spices of the traditional Cameroonian dish “Nkui” in ovariectomized Wistar rats. J Complement Integr Med 13(2):151–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ene-Obong H, Onuoha NO, Mbah O, Aburime L (2018) Chemical composition and antioxidant activities of some indigenous spices consumed in Nigeria. Food Chem 238:58–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Onekutu A, Ugwu BF, Otakpa EO (2018) Toxicity of single and mixture application of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus and Afromomum melegueta seed powder on the biology of cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.). J Adv Biol Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.9734/jabb/2018/39666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. El-Seedi HR, Muhammad A, Nasr SK, Hanem HS, Shaden AMK, Khalijah A, Aamer S, Mohamed AF, Mohamed FA, Katinka P, Anna-Karin BK (2017) Essential oils of aromatic Egyptian plants repel nymphs of the tick Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae). Exp Appl Acarol 73:139–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Yirankinyuki FF, Wilson LD, Tatah VS, Aisha P (2017) Characterization and determination of antifugal activities of essential oil extracted from the bark of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus “Country Onion or Shirum”. Biochem Mol Biol 2(5):29–33

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ngane AN, Marie L, Seraphin D, Landreau A, Richomme P (2003) Three 1-thio-β-d-glucopyranosides from the seeds of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. Carbohydr Res 341(17):2799–2802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Belitz HD, Grosch W, Schieberle P (2009) Food chemistry, 4th revised and extended edn. Springer, Berlin, pp 421–428

    Google Scholar 

  11. Helfand S, Werkmeister J, Roader J (1982) Chemiluminescence response of human natural killer cells. The relationship between target cell binding, chemiluminescence and cytolysis. J Exp Med 156:492–505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Erharuyi O, Adhikari A, Falodun A, Jabeen A, Imad R, Ammad M, Choudhary MI, Gören N (2017) Cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and leishmanicidal activities of diterpenes isolated from the roots of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. Planta Med 83:104–110

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. El Ashry SH, El-Tamany SH, Abd EFM, Aly MR, Boraei AT, Mesaik MA, Abdalla OM, Fatima B, Jabeen A, Shukrulla A, Soomro S (2013) Immunomodulatory properties of S- and N-alkylated 5-(1H-indol-2-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thione. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 28(1):105–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Shah ZA, Jabeen A, Soomro S, Mesaik MA, Choudhary MI, Shaheen F (2015) Solid-phase total synthesis of cyclic peptide brachystemin A and its immunomodulating activity. Turk J Chem. https://doi.org/10.3906/kim-1412-58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Adebo O, Njobeh PB, Desobgo SCZ, Pieterse MKE, Ndinteh DT (2018) Profiling of volatile flavor compounds in nkui (a Cameroonian food) by solid phase extraction and 2D gas chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (SPME-GC × GC-TOF-MS). Food Sci Nutr 6(8):2028–2035

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sharma KR, Agrawal M, Marshall MF (2009) Heavy metals in vegetable collected from production and market diets of a tropical urban area of India. Food Chem Toxicol 47:583–591

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Łobinski R, Schaumlöffel D, Szpunar J (2006) Mass spectrometry in bioinorganic analytical chemistry. Mass Spectrom Rev 25:255–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Nelms S (2005) Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry handbook. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford. ISBN 978-1-405-10916-1

    Book  Google Scholar 

  19. Underwood EJ, Mertz W (1987) In: Mertz W (ed) Introduction in trace elements in human and animal nutrition, 5th edn. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 1–19

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bass JK, Chan GM (2006) Calcium nutrition and metabolism during infancy. Nutrition 22:1057–1066

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Blair M, Wohlgemuth XW, Devendra B, Carolina A (2016) Genetic dissection of ICP-detected nutrient accumulation in the whole seed of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Front Plant Sci 1:1. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Martínez F, Uribe A, Milán R, Espinosa-García MT, García-Pérez C, Flores-Herrera O (2002) Differential effects of magnesium on the hydrolysis of ADP and ATP in human term placenta: effect of substrates and potassium. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 34:1004–1016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Jeejeebhoy K (2009) Zinc: an essential trace element for parenteral nutrition. Gastroenterology 137:S7–S12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Nielsen FH (2014) Update on human health effects of boron. J Trace Elem Med Biol 28:383–387

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Gaetke LM, Chow CK (2003) Copper toxicity, oxidative stress, and antioxidant nutrients. Toxicology 189:147–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Frossard E, Bucher M, Mächler F, Mozafar A, Hurrell R (2000) Potential for increasing the content and bioavailability of Fe, Zn and Ca in plants for human nutrition. J Sci Food Agric 80:861–879

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ajibola A, Chamunorwa JP, Erlwanger KH (2012) Nutraceutical values of natural honey and its contribution to human health and wealth. Nutr Metab 9:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Harrison RM, Chirgawi MB (1989) The assessment of air and soil as contributors of some trace metal to vegetable plants. Sci Total Environ 83:13–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Zugravu CA, Parvu M, Patrascu D, Stoian A (2009) Correlations between lead and cadmium pollution of honey and environmental heavy metal presence in two Romanian counties. Bull UASVM Agric 66:230–300

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to ICCBS and PCMD for assistance in analyses towards realization of this work.

Funding

This work was supported by TWAS Sandwich Fellowship (FR Number: 3240293193) offered to Dr. A. N. Tamfu.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Tamfu Alfred Ngenge & Tagatsing Fotsing Maurice

  2. Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicinal & Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    Almas Jabeen & Tariq Ahmad Baig

  3. H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    Tamfu Alfred Ngenge & Farzana Shaheen

Authors
  1. Tamfu Alfred Ngenge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Almas Jabeen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tagatsing Fotsing Maurice
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tariq Ahmad Baig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Farzana Shaheen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Tamfu Alfred Ngenge or Farzana Shaheen.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ngenge, T.A., Jabeen, A., Maurice, T.F. et al. Organic and Mineral Composition of Seeds of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. and Evaluation of ROS Inhibition and Cytotoxicity of Isolated Compounds. Chemistry Africa 2, 615–624 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-019-00087-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-019-00087-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation