Phytochemical Profiles of Rhoicissus Tridentata Harvested From the Slopes Elgon Sub-region, Uganda

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Prostate cancer remains a formidable threat in Uganda. As such, the quest to find novel, efficacious therapies with reduced side effects to avert this challenge is still ongoing. Medicinal plants are taking center stage in these efforts. In the Elgon sub-region of Eastern Uganda, Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) is one of the medicinal plants commonly used in the management of prostate cancer among communities and traditional herbalists but its phytochemical profiles responsible for toxicity activity have not fully been investigated. This impedes the potential usefulness of R. tridentata in developing improved anticancer biotherapeutics.to find novel, efficacious therapies with reduced side effects to avert this challenge is still ongoing. The current study investigated the phytochemical compositions of aqueous and methanol extracts of Rhoicissus tridentata used in the management of prostate harvested from the Elgon sub-region. Methods: The root tubers were harvested from the mountain Elgon sub-region, identified and authenticated, cleaned, air-dried, pounded, and subjected to qualitative phytochemical profiling and spectrophotometry. The laboratory experiments were conducted at Islamic University in Uganda, Uganda Natural Chemotherapeutics Laboratories, and Makerere University. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with STATA version 15.0 software. Graphs were plotted using GraphPad Prism® version 9.0.0. Results: The researchers found that Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) root tuber extracts were very rich in a number of phytochemical compounds that dissolve better in methanol than in ethanol. Polyphenols, tannins, glycosides, carotenoids, and flavonoids were significantly higher in methanol than in ethanol and water (p=0.0022), while saponins were substantially higher in water (p=0.0022). Conclusions: Root tubers of Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) had several bioactive compounds, with the majority found in methanol as compared to water extract. The bioactive compounds observed were mainly polyphenols and flavonoids, and these have been reported to possess reputable anticancer properties. To help the pharmaceutical industry develop novel and more potent anticancer medications from plants such as R. tridentata, it is necessary to undertake in vitro and in vivo investigations on the plant extracts and to purify and characterize the most bioactive compounds.