Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous and Hydroethanolic Extracts from Three Anticancerous Fabaceae of Northern Cameroon Pharmacopoeia

Background: Cancer continues to pose a significant threat to our society, representing one of the most pressing health concerns worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and the antioxidant activity of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts from Acacia nilotica (An), Bauhinia reticulate (Br), and Tamarindus indica (Ti) of Fabaceae family, traditionally used in Northern Cameroon for cancer treatment. Methods: The phytochemical screening of the three plants was conducted using conventional colorimetric methods, followed by the measurement of total phenol content, flavonoids, and tannins. The antiradical and antioxidant activities of both plant extracts were assessed through FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH methods. A principal components analysis was employed to correlate the quantities of the evaluated secondary metabolites with the activities. Results: Both types of extracts from the three plants contain alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, coumarins, anthocyanins, and anthraquinones. The aqueous extracts of Br and An are significantly richer (p < 0.05) in phenolic compounds and flavonoids than their respective hydroethanolic extracts, while the opposite is observed with Ti. The FRAP antioxidant potential was more pronounced in the aqueous extracts of Ti and Br than in their corresponding hydroethanolic extracts. However, An exhibited the highest potential with both types of extraction. The best DPPH scavenging activity was obtained with the aqueous extract of An, comparable to the reference. The same plant also demonstrated the highest activity in the ABTS test with both its extracts, more pronounced in the hydroethanolic extract, which was significantly better (p < 0.05) than the reference (gallic acid). The FRAP activity was highly correlated with the three classes of quantified secondary metabolites. Conclusion: The three Fabaceae plants from northern Cameroon, prepared in different solvents, can be utilized for their antiradical properties in cancer treatment.