article · Natural Product Research
This laboratory evaluation investigated the antioxidant properties of leaf extracts from three plants frequently consumed as herbal teas in a rural Bandundu area affected by konzo: Lantana montevidensis, Lippia multiflora, and Ocimum gratissimum. Chemical screening identified verbascoside as a major phenolic compound across the extracts, representing the first detection of this compound in L. montevidensis and O. gratissimum. In radical-scavenging tests covering concentrations between 1 and 40 micrograms per millilitre, all extracts exhibited strong antioxidant effects, with L. multiflora demonstrating the highest capacity, followed by O. gratissimum and L. montevidensis. Testing on HL-60 monocytes further confirmed that L. multiflora offered the strongest cellular antioxidant protection at concentrations between 1 and 20 micrograms per millilitre. These local herbal teas demonstrate strong cellular antioxidant properties suitable for potential dietary promotion.
Konzo is a condition associated with oxidative damage in rural regions such as Bandundu. Demonstrating that commonly consumed local herbal teas possess strong cellular antioxidant capacities suggests that readily available dietary options could help provide antioxidant protection to communities affected by this health burden.
The findings suggest these plant extracts could serve as functional ingredients for nutraceuticals or promoted dietary supplements. Target users would be consumers seeking antioxidant health products, particularly in regions prone to oxidative health issues. Because the data rely on early-stage laboratory chemical profiling and in vitro cell assays, the work is at an early research stage and requires further development before market introduction.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the cellular antioxidant activities of Lantana montevidensis, Lippia multiflora, and Ocimum gratissimum leaves often consumed as herbal teas in a rural area of Bandundu severely affected by konzo, which is related to oxidative damage. Consequently, dietary supplements with proven antioxidant potentialities could be of real interest to promote in this area. Phytochemical screening by TLC and HPLC-DAD of extracts revealed the presence of verbascoside as a major phenolic compound. Verbascoside in L. montevidensis and O. gratissimum is reported here for the first time. All extracts displayed high ABTS and DPPH radical-scavenging activities at the concentration range of 1-40 μg mL<sup>-1</sup> according to order: L. multiflora > O. gratissimum > L. montevidensis. L. multiflora showed the best cellular antioxidant activity using DCFH-DA on HL-60 monocytes assay at 1-20 μg mL<sup>-1</sup>. These herbal teas may be used as nutraceuticals for their potent antioxidant activity.
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DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2016.1263844
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