Novel insights into the biopharmaceutical potential, comparative phytochemical analysis and multivariate analysis of different extracts of shea butter tree -Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn

Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn. (Family: Sapotaceae), is a well-known medicinal plant but with no consolidated published literature to substantiate its traditional uses. This research aimed to investigate the pharmaceutical potential of V. paradoxa extracts and attempts to compare the biological profiles and phytochemical analysis prepared by different extraction protocols. For preparation of the V. paradoxa leaves and stem bark extracts, four extraction techniques and two different solvent types were employed. First analysis included identification of bioactive compounds by use of high-resolution Quadrupole Time-Of-Flight instrument. Antioxidant capacities were evaluated as radical scavenging potential, reducing potential, total antioxidant capacity (phosphomolybdenum) and metal chelating power. The last evaluation step included analysis of the inhibitory properties of V. paradoxa extracts against key enzymes related to main health problems. Our findings revealed key details on phytochemical profiling of the V. paradoxa plant, whereas 17 phytochemicals were identified in leaves and 14 in stem bark. Antioxidant assays showed that extracts obtained by maceration extraction process exhibit potent antioxidant capacities. Extracts prepared by HAE generally showed the highest enzymatic activities. The presented findings confirmed the need for further studies geared towards discovery and development of novel bioactive components from V. paradoxa leaves and stem bark.