Evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Pycnanthus angolensis and Cnestis ferruginea, two plants traditionally used in the treatment of breast cancer in Côte d’Ivoire

This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of plant extracts from Cnestis ferruginea and Pycnanthus angolensis. The antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS, and FRAP assays, while the anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by the extracts' ability to inhibit bovine serum albumin denaturation.
The results show that the Cnestis ferruginea extract exhibits higher antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values of 97.46 µg/mL (DPPH), while the Pycnanthus angolensis extract displays a more moderate activity (91.37 µg/mL), compared to vitamin C (6.09 µg/mL). In contrast, the anti-inflammatory activity is higher for Pycnanthus angolensis, with an inhibition percentage of 68.42%, significantly greater than that of Cnestis ferruginea (47.36%) (p < 0.05) and comparable to sodium diclofenac (73.68%) (p > 0.05).    
These results indicate that both extracts possess complementary biological activities. The Pycnanthus angolensis extract may contain compounds capable of directly acting on inflammatory mechanisms, independent of their antioxidant activity.    
In conclusion, these plants are promising sources of bioactive compounds, potentially valuable in the prevention and management of diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, pending further studies.