Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Six Acanthaceae from Burkina Faso

In this study the total phenolic and flavonoid content as well as the antioxidant activity of six Acanthaceae namely Blepharis lineariifolia PERS, Dicliptera verticillata (FORRSK.) C. CHRISTENS, Dyschoriste perrottetii (NEES) O. KTZE, Hygrophila auriculata (SCHUMACH.) HEINE, Lepidagathis anobrya NEES, Nelsonia canescens (LAM) SPRENG were evaluated. The total phenolic and flavonoid of their aqueous acetone extract were assessed by Folin-ciocalteu and AlCl3 method, respectively, whereas the antioxidant activities were determined by the DPPH method. Lepidagathis anobrya, Hygrophila auriculata and Nelsonia canescens which had the highest phenolic content, were found to possess the best antioxidant activities. The results suggest that these plants are good sources of antioxidants and support their use in cardiovascular and antiinflammatory diseases.