Antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and toxicity on Cavia porcellus of Dialium angolense Welw. Ex Oliv, a traditional medicinal plant from Bagira in Eastern of DR Congo

Abstract

Dialium angolense is used in Bagira for its various medicinal properties particularly in the management of infectious diseases. In this study, the methanol and aqueous extracts of leaves and fruits were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and their in vivo toxicity on Cavia porcellus. The major phytochemical classes of extracts were screened using standard in-tube reactions. The antimicrobial study was tested on Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae using agar well diffusion and dilution methods, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated by a DPPH assay. For the acute toxicity study, animals (6/group) were orally given in a single dose 5000, 1000 or 15000 mg of extract/kg body weight (BW) then observed for 14 days. In sub-acute toxicity assays, 150 or 300 mg/kg BW/day were orally given, and animals observed for 28 days. Total phenolics and total flavonoids contents ranged 1.19 to 1.61 mg GAE.g-1 and 0.45 to 1.01 mg QEg-1, respectively. The extracts presented antioxidant activity with IC50 ranging 4.9 to 6.9 µg/mL. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) on tested strains ranged from 1.9 to 500 µg/mL with the aqueous extract of fruits as a most active extract: MIC=1.9 µg/mL on E. coli and C. albicans. No signs of toxicity were noted during the acute and sub-acute toxicity assessments, suggesting a maximal tolerate doses (MDT) and LD50 > 15000 mg/kg BW. This study highlights the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Dialium angolense and suggests that further studies be directed towards the isolation of active compounds.