Investigation of phytochemical and biological properties of root bark extracts from Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir (Fabaceae), also known as Senegal rosewood or African teak

The roots of the Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir., also known as Senegal rosewood, not only contain antioxidants but also have an anti-inflammatory effect, based on a study authored by researchers from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST) and the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 in France. The paper, which was published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, highlighted the possible pharmacological activities of the P. erinaceus roots, through in vivo testing.

• Dried root barks of the P. erinaceus were collected via maceration with dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) over 48 hours. This resulted in four compounds, which were individually analyzed.
• To establish the anti-inflammatory property of P. erinaceus, NRMI mice were grouped into five and were given a solution to induce ear edema.
• The lipoxygenase inhibitor effect of P. erinaceus extracts was tested using the colorimetric method. This method was done in triplicate.
• Results indicated that mice ears treated with P. erinaceus extract displayed a reduction in ear edema over the control group.
• The extracts also inhibited lipoxygenase, an enzyme that causes inflammation, in the edema.
• It also exhibited antioxidant properties after tests showed that it was able to reduce lipid peroxidation, as well as inhibit cell damage.

Researchers concluded that P. erinaceus extract has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which supports its traditional use as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Full text of the study at this link.

Journal reference:

Ouédraogo Noufou, Hay Anne-Emmanuelle, Ouédraogo Jean Claude, Sawadogo W. Richard, Tibiri André, Lompo Marius, Nikiema Jean-Baptiste, Koudou Jean, Dijoux-Franca Marie-Geneviève, Guissou Innocent Pierre. BIOLOGICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF EXTRACTS FROM PTEROCARPUS ERINACEUS POIR (FABACEAE) ROOT BARKS. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2017; 14: 1 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21010/ajtcam.v14i1.21