Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Flueggea virosa (Phyllanthaceae) Used in the Traditional Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Mali

Worldwide, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is common in men over the age of 50. Hence there is a phytotherapy for BPH. In Mali, many medicinal plants are used in the traditional treatment of BPH. The current work aimed to characterize secondary metabolites and anti-radical constituents, to determine the acute toxicity and to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extracts from the leaves and stems of Flueggea virosa. Colour and precipitation reactions in tubes were performed to characterize the chemical constituents of the extracts. Anti-radical substances were determined through the free radical reduction method of 1,1 diphenyl, 2-picryl hydrazyl radical. The acute toxicity was performed in vivo using female mice. In vivo analgesic activity was determined through inhibition of induced pain in mice using 0.6% acetic acid. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was determined by inhibiting inflammation caused with carrageenan in mice. The main chemical constituents of aqueous extracts were flavonoids, tannins and saponins. Polar extracts contained anti-radical substances. These extracts exhibited analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The decoction extracts administered orally in mice at the dose of 2000 mg/kg did not provoke toxic effects and mortality. The stem extract at 100 mg / kg exhibited the best analgesic activity with 64.82% inhibition and anti-inflammatory activity with 59.07% inhibition. These first results justify the traditional use of the plant in the medical management of BPH and will help to make data for the development of a new improved traditional medicine (ITM) based on the stems of Flueggea virosa.