Phytochemical profiling of plants based on different ethnobotanical use categories

Medicinal plants associated with strong antibacterial activity often share the common feature of a chemistry rich in polyphenolics and tannins. However, is this trait unique to anti-infective plants? Are the general chemical profiles of medicinal plants fundamentally different from those not used for medicinal purposes? In this study, we addressed these questions through phytochemical profiling of medicinal plants used in the treatment of infectious disease, and compared these findings with a random sample of plants with no reported medicinal use in the literature. Crude MeOH extracts from 50 species were evaluated using spectrophotometric techniques for the quantification total tannins and phenolics, and also for antioxidant activity. Specifically, we employed the Folin-Denis method for assessment of tannins, Folin-Ciocalteu for polyphenolics, and the DPPH assay for antioxidant activity. Here, we discuss how ethnobotanical use corresponds to plant chemistry on a broad scale.