Pharmacognostic study of the stem of Caesalpinia bahamensis and characterization of its aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts

Abstract

Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam. is a medicinal plant widely used by the Cuban population to treat hepatic and renal diseases, peptic ulcer and diabetes. However, the scientific knowledge on this species is limited. The aim of this study is to determine the quality parameters and the preliminary chemical composition of the stem of Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam. and its aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts. The quality parameters of the stem of C. bahamensis and its aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts were determined according to WHO recommendations. The chemical composition of the extracts was studied by phytochemical screening and their TLC and UV profiles. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds were quantified by the aluminium trichloride and Folin-Ciocalteu methods, respectively. In this study, the morphological characteristics and physicochemical parameters of the stem of C. bahamensis and its extracts were determined for first time. Flavonoids were higher for the hydroalcoholic extract and phenols for the aqueous extract.