Maclura pomifera : phytochemical and biological characterization

The Osage orange tree(Maclura pomifera) is one of the tropical fruits that constitutes a source of active substances such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, flavanols, proanthocyanidins... These molecules are endowed with very important biological activities.The present study aimed to investigate the phenolic compounds of different organic extracts at different polarities extracted from the different fruit parts of M. pomifera (exocarp, mesocarp and seed) and also to study their antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities in vitro and in vivo. The results of the assays showed that the ethyl acetate extract of the exocarp contains the highest content of polyphenols and flavonoids. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH radical inhibition, iron reducing and chelating powers. The results showed that ethyl acetate extract of M. pomifera exocarp exhibited the highest activity. The study of anti-acetylcholinesterase activity in vitro and in vivo shows that the highest inhibitory activity is also that of ethyl acetate extract of exocarp.