%0 Journal Article
%T Profiling of Phytochemicals in Tissues from Sclerocarya birrea by HPLC-MS and Their Link with Antioxidant Activity
%A Daniela Russo
%A Owen Kenny
%A Thomas J. Smyth
%A Luigi Milella
%A Mohammad B. Hossain
%A Moussoukhoye Sissokho Diop
%A Dilip K. Rai
%A Nigel P. Brunton
%J ISRN Chromatography
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/283462
%X High performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was employed to investigate the differences in phytochemicals in roots, bark, and leaf of Sclerocarya birrea (marula) for methanol and water extracts that exhibited the best antioxidant activities. As many as 36 compounds were observed in the extracts of these tissues of which 27 phenolic compounds were tentatively identified. The HPLC-MS/MS results showed flavonoid glycosides were prominent in leaf extracts while the galloylated tannins were largely in bark and root extracts. Four flavonoid glycosides that were reported for the first time in the marula leaf have been identified. The HPLC-MS/MS studies also illustrated different degrees (highest degree = 3) of oligomerisation and galloylation of tannins in the bark and root extracts. 1. Introduction Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst, more commonly known as marula, is taxonomically derived from the Anacardiaceae plant family. It is an indigenous, fruit-bearing tree of sub-Saharan Africa [1]. It grows mostly at low altitudes and can reach up to 20£¿m in height and 1.2£¿m in diameter [2]. Traditionally, marula has multiple uses; the fruits are eaten or processed to make beer and jam, the kernels are eaten or their oils extracted, the leaves are used as forage for livestock, and the wood is carved into utilitarian items such as spoons and plates [2]. The marula tree has been the subject of numerous chemical, biological, and environmental investigations since 1906 [3] and has been identified as one of five fruit tree species that should be integrated in the domestication process in African farming system [4, 5]. This is due to its use as source of food and medicine in rural communities and its potential to generate income through the sale of its derivates. The bark, leaves, and roots of Sclerocarya birrea (S. birrea) have attracted attention because they have been traditionally used to treat an assortment of human ailments such as dysentery, fevers, malaria, diarrhea, stomach ailments, rheumatism, sore eyes, gangrenous rectitis, infertility, headaches, toothache, and body pains [6, 7]. As a result, extracts of this plant have been reported to possess antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, astringent anticonvulsant [8¨C10], antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory [11], and antiatherogenic properties [12]. Several of these properties could be attributed to the high content of polyphenols and its antioxidant activity [13¨C16]. As a result of their high antioxidant activities, extracts from S. birrea could also be used to control
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.chromatography/2013/283462/