Mokgotho, Matlou PhineasGololo, Stanley SecheneMasoko, PeterMdee, Ladislaus KakoreMbazima, VusiShai, Leshweni JeremiaBagla, Victor PatrickEloff, Jacobus NicolaasMampuru, Leseilane2013-10-282013-10-282013Mokgoth, MP, Gololo, SS, Masoko, P, Mdee, LK, Mbazima, V, Shai, LJ, Bagla, VP, Eloff, JN & Mampuru, L 2013, 'Isolation and chemical structural characterisation of a compound with antioxidant activity from the roots of Senna italica', Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, no. ID 519174, pp. 1-6.1741-427X (print)1741-4288 (online)10.1155/2013/5191747005589445http://hdl.handle.net/2263/32170Senna italica, a member of the Fabaceae family (subfamily Caesalpiniaceae), is widely used in South African traditional medicine to treat a number of disease conditions. Aqueous extracts of the plant are mainly used to treat sexually transmitted infections and intestinal complications. The roots of S. italica were ground to a fine powder and sequentially extracted with n-hexane, dichloromethane, acetone, and methanol using serial exhaustive extraction (SEE) method. Thin layer chromatography was used to analyse the phytochemical composition of the extracts and DPPH radical scavenging method to detect the presence of antioxidant compounds. The bioassay guided fractionation of the acetone fraction afforded an antioxidant compound with free radical scavenging activity.The isolated compoundwas subsequently identified as 3,4󸀠????,5-trihydroxystilbene (resveratrol).This study represents the first report of the stilbene resveratrol in S. italica.en© 2013 Matlou Phineas Mokgotho et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution LicenseTraditional medicineStilbene resveratrolSenna italicaSouth AfricaAlternative medicine -- South AfricaMateria medica, VegetableArticle