Abstract:
Aims: To Determine antioxidant value and chemical groups in selected medicinal plants used for
conditions associated with Herpes simplex and Herpes zoster infections in Mukhwa sub-location,
Kakamega County, Kenya.
Study Design: A qualitative ethnobotanical survey for plant identification and chemical analysis for
antioxidant assay and chemical group detection.
Place and Duration of Study: Plant samples were collected in Mukhwa sub-location in September
2014. Sample processing and chemical group detection was carried out at the Center of Traditional
Medicine and Drug Research of Kenya Medical Research Institute. Antioxidant assay was carried
out at the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences of the Kenya Medical Training College.
Original Research Article
Radol et al.; AJOB, 8(4): 1-10, 2019; Article no.AJOB.54049
2
Methodology: All 12 Community Health Workers, comprising 7 females and 5 males, were
interviewed for identification of plant species. Antioxidant assay was carried out using the 2,2-
Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reduction assay and detection of flavonoids, terpenoids,
alkanoids, saponins and phenols carried out using physicho-chemical methods.
Results: Caesalpinia decapetala, Garcinia buchananii and Entada abyssinica, were the most
potent sources of antioxidant with the concentration giving 50% DPPH reduction (RSa50) of 50, 20
and 10 µg/ml, respectively. The most abundant chemical groups were; alkaloids in Schkuhria
pinnata, terpenoids in E. abyssinica, flavonoids in G. buchananii, the latter also contained the
highest amount of phenols.
Conclusion: The findings of antioxidant and chemical groups in selected medicinal plants support
their use for HIV conditions.