Phytochimic Study, Antioxidant Activity and Nutritional Interest of Extracts from Leaves of Khaya senegalensis (Desr) A. Juss (Meliaceae) Collected in the Northern Cote d'ivoire

Medicinal and food plants contain a large number of metabolites that have multiple interests in pharmacology, cosmetology and the food industry. The aim of this study was to determine the content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, to evaluate the antioxidant activity and to raise the nutritional interest of extracts from leaves of Khaya senegalensis. The methodological approach consisted of carrying out extractions with distilled water, ethanol, methanol and butanol. The extracts thus obtained were subjected to phytochemical analysis by spectrophotometric assay to determine the content of minerals, total phenols and flavonoids and to evaluate the antioxidant activity. The investigations revealed that K. senegalensis leaves extract have a high calcium content (948.38 ± 11.57 mg / 100 g), magnesium (188.24 ± 0.97 mg / 100 g), phosphorus (304.98 ± 2.6 mg / 100 g) and iron (41.50 ± 1.57 mg / 100 g). A high content of total phenols and flavonoids was observed with butanol extract (91.53 ± 0.04 mg EAG / g extract) and (75.58 ± 0.05 mg EQ / g extract) respectively. The ethanol and methanol extracts recorded the best performances by reducing the residual iron while the aqueous and butanol extracts obtained the IC50 values closest to those of the reference viz vitamin C and BHT. This studyshowed that K. senegalensis leaves are a source of active substances known for their therapeutic and nutritional properties. The leaves of K. senegalensis could be used to treat various pathologies and also as an alternative in cattle feeding.