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Several studies have focused on the biological and chemical properties of different species of the family Arecaceae. Isolation and characterization of the phytochemicals of Archontophoenix alexandrae (Wendl. & Drude) and Dictyosperma album (Bory) H. Wendl & Drude ex Scheff. leaves (family Arecaceae) and determination of their total phenolics, flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity were investigated in this study. Chromatographic and spectral techniques were used for the phytochemical investigation. Total phenolics content was estimated using Folin-Ciocalteu method, total flavonoids content was determined using AlCl3 assay, while antioxidant activity was estimated using DPPH and reducing power assays. Nine compounds; stigmasterol (1), β-sitosterol (2), tricin (3), luteolin (4), quercetin (5), β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside (6), ent-epicatechin-(2α→7, 4α→8)-ent-catechin (7), rutin (8) and orientin (9) were isolated and identified. Their structures were established based on spectral techniques (UV, ¹H, 13C and 2D-NMR). The antioxidant activity of Dictyosperma album leaves is higher than that of Archontophoenix alexandrae leaves. This work enriched the phytochemical data of Archontophoenix alexandrae (Wendl. & Drude) and Dictyosperma album (Bory) H. Wendl & drudeex. Scheff and their leaves may be a potential antioxidant drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genus Cycas, Cycadaceae family, contains about 117 species. Nevertheless, few species have been phytochemically and pharmacologically studied. To date Eighty-eight secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, terpenoids, lignans, aromatic acids and sterols were isolated and identified from nineteen Cycas species. Among the isolated compounds flavonoids are the most prevalent metabolites. The extracts as well as pure compounds isolated from Cycas species were reported to exhibit a wide range of biological activities including; antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, anthelmintic, analgesic, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and thrombolytic activities. The present review highlights the reported phytochemical content as well as the pharmacological potential of Cycas species. Interestingly, it indicates that; almost all the previous investigation of the biological activity of pure compounds isolated from this genus was directed towards its flavonoid content. Accordingly, more biological studies are needed to figure out the possible role of other isolated compounds in the observed biological activities and/or the reported traditional uses of different Cycas species. Moreover, further studies are required to investigate other unexplored species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]