Author(s): Hadidjatou Daïrou, Enangue MAKEMBE Adèle, Nfor Gael Njini, Helena Ribeiro Souza, Ariane Yoshikawa, Fanta Yadang Sabine Adéline, Tchamba Kombou Eleonore Magloire, Ana Paula Girol, Nguéléfack Télesphore Benoît and Gabriel Agbor Agbor

Abstract: Garcinia kola, commonly found in subtropical and tropical forests in West and Central Africa is important in African ethno-medicine for the treatment of asthma, diabetes, cancer, ulcer, infectious diseases, and inflammatory conditions. The present assessed the phytochemical composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanolic, aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of Garcinia kola stem barks. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of antioxidant compounds such as Tannins, Flavonoids, Alkaloids, Polyphenols while a more detailed phytochemical characterization by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) detected the presence of Gallic acid and Catechin. The polyphenols and flavonoids were higher in the ethanolic extract compared to the aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts. The ethanolic extract equally had the highest antioxidant activity as determined DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging activity. Similar trend of results was obtained in the anti-inflammatory activity characterized by protein denaturation (BSA), membrane stabilization and anti-proteinase activity with ethanol being better than the other two extracts.