Abstract:
Warburgia salutaris (Bertol. F.) Chiovs, Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild & Drum and Terminalia sericea
(Burch. ex DC.), are widely used medicinal plants in southern Africa. The aim of the study was to
determine the phenolic and flavonoid content and evaluate the antioxidant activity of the three
medicinal plants. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically as
gallic acid and rutin equivalents, respectively. Individual phenolic acids were identified by means of gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antioxidant activities of the crude extracts were assessed using
the TEAC assay. The highest phenolic content was detected in the crude methanol extract of the bark
of W. salutaris and the highest flavonoid content was found in the crude methanol extract of the leaves
of this plant. In all the studied plants the alkaline hydrolysable fraction yielded a greater variety of
phenolic acids compared to the soluble/free phenolic acid fractions. The three medicinal plants
investigated were found to be strong radical scavengers supporting the traditional use of these
medicinal plants.
