COMPARATIVE IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF SOME HERBAL PLANTS

BackgroundThe problem of drug resistance and toxicity in trypanosomiasis is ever-increasing, thereby creating a need to search for efficacious and safer alternatives that are of plant origin. We designed the present study to assess the oral acute toxicity, and anti-trypanosomal activity of Brillantaisia owariensis in mice.MethodsFifty-eight BALB/c mice were used for this study. For toxicity assessment, eighteen mice were divided into two groups of nine mice each, and acute single oral administration of the aqueous and methanol whole plant extracts of B. owariensis was assessed for each group as per Lorke’s method. Mice were observed for signs of toxicity of liver and kidney organs after two weeks of oral administration. For the anti-trypanosomal activity, forty mice were divided into eight groups of five mice. Mouse in each group was inoculated with 0.1 mL containing106T. brucei /mL. Following patency of 3 days, mice were treated at different dosages of methanol and aqueous extracts. Pre-infection, post-infection, and post-treatment data for rectal temperature, body weight, parasiteamia level, packed cell volume, and daily survival were monitored.ResultsThe acute oral toxicity studies (LD50) for methanol and aqueous plant extracts in this study were calculated as 3535 mg/kg/body weight, and are non-toxic. No obvious histopathologic observation in the liver and kidney tissues. The mean daily rectal temperature and mean weights of all the treated mice were restored to normal values and significant (P, 0.05) in comparison to the positive control.Parasitaemia clearance by both extracts was suppressive. The mean PCV values were significantly increased following treatment, and there was prolonged survival especially in mice treated with methanol extracts.ConclusionThe study concludes that the extracts of B. owariensis are relatively non-toxic with a good safety margin when administered to mice orally. Crude methanol extract exhibited better suppressive and haematinic antitrypanosomal activities than the aqueous extract, and it has a promising effect by its ability to reduce anaemia in mice challenged with T. brucei brucei, and prolonged survival.

Anticandidal, antibacterial, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of Calendula arvensis flowers

This study determined the total phenol, phenolic acid content, the free radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant properties of methanol and aqueous extracts of R. officinalis and O. dictamnus species (Crete, Greece). The methanol extracts showed higher radical scavenging activity (P < 0.05) than the aqueous extracts (mean EC50 value: 0.33 and 0.38 mg/mL, respectively). Rosemary was superior in activity to dittany (mean EC50 value: 0.26 and 1.04 mg/mL, respectively). A number of phenolic acids were also tested for comparison reasons and showed stronger radical scavenging activity than the synthetic antioxidant BHT (mean EC50 value: 0.0821 mg/mL). In the contrary, the aqueous extracts showed significantly higher ferric reducing antioxidant properties (P < 0.05) than the methanol extracts did (mean EC50 value: 0.028 and 0.038 mg/mL, respectively). Rosemary was superior in reducing activity to dittany (mean EC50 value: 0.035 and 0.107 mg/mL, respectively). Caffeic and rosmarinic acids were found to be stronger reducing agents (mean EC50 value: 0.0034 and 0.0021 mg/mL, respectively) than the other phenolic acids as strong as ascorbic acid (mean EC50 value: 0.0033 mg/mL). The aqueous plant extracts contained significantly higher total phenol (P < 0.05) than the methanol extracts did (mean value: 7.55 and 4.07 mg/g dry leaf). Rosemary was a better source of total phenol than dittany (mean value: 5.14 and 3.35 mg/g dry leaf). Rosmarinic and caffeic acids were identified in all the plant extracts and rosmarinic acid was the predominant phenolic acid ranging from 5574.6 to 7542.9 mg/kg dry leaf. The aqueous plant extracts were significantly higher in phenolic acid content than the methanol extracts (P < 0.05) (mean value: 9631.2, 7796.4 mg/kg dry leaf, respectively). Dittany was the highest source of phenolic acid content (P < 0.05) compared to rosemary (mean value: 9134.9 and 8292.7 mg/kg dry leaf, respectively). A positive linear correlation was found between total phenol content, radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant properties of dittany extracts (r2 = 0.9998).

Plants are the basis of traditional medicine system and have been the source of many of novel drug components. Passiflora suberosa is used in Sri Lankan Ayurvedic system to treat many diseases including diabetes. The objective of the present study was to evaluate phytochemical constituent of different extracts and antimicrobial effect of methanol and aqueous extracts of leaves of P. suberosa. Aqueous, methanol, chloroform and hexane extracts of leaves of P. suberosa obtained under reflux conditions were subjected for phytochemical screening according to previously established methods. Aqueous and methanol extracts of P. suberosa leaves possessed more phytochemicals, thus those extracts were subjected for antimicrobial study which was obtained using minimum inhibition assay as determined by agar well diffusion method. Both methanol and aqueous extracts ranging from 6 μg/ml - 800 μg/ml were tested against both gram positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium) and gram negative bacteria (Pseudumonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimuriam and Escherichia cloi) while Gentamicin was used as the standarded drug. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins and anthraquinones in the chloroform extract, alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids in the hexane extract and alkaloids, unsaturated sterols, triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids and tannins in both methanol and aqueous extracts. Proanthocyanidin, which is a potent free radical scavenger, was observed only in the aqueous extract. Further, only methanol extract was found to possess moderate activity against all the tested bacterial strains. Highest concentration (800 μg/ml) of methanol extract showed widest zone of inhibition (7 mm), indicating moderate activity against tested bacterial strains. In contrast, the aqueous extract showed poor activity against tested bacterial strains. In conclusion, results revealed the presence of bioactive natural compounds in aqueous and mehtanolic extracts that may be used in the development of pharmaceutical products. Similarly, preliminary studies on antimicrobial activity exhibited antimicrobial potential of methanol extract, which could be used as future antimicrobial sources for natural therapies, food industry. Keywords: Passiflora suberosa, Phytochemical, Antimicrobial activity, Agar well diffusion

Traditional preparation of Phaleria nisidai, a Palauan tea, reduces exposure to toxic daphnane-type diterpene esters while maintaining immunomodulatory activity

∙) scavenging capacity of the methanol and aqueous extracts increased in a dose dependent manner (up to 0.1 mg/ ml) and plant leaves extract concentrations required for 50% inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging effect (IC50) were recorded as 0.014 and 0.015 mg/ml for methanol and aqueous extracts, respectively. The leaf extracts also scavenged the ABTS .+ radical generated by 2,2'-Azinobis-(3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS)/2.4 mM potassium persulfate (PPS) system and the IC50 values were found to be 0.017 and 0.018 mg/ml for methanol and aqueous extracts, respectively. The total antioxidant power of the extract was determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Qualitative analysis of the phytochemicals of aqueous extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, proteins, phenols and flavonoids. The methanol extract was found to contain phenols and flavonoids as major phyto-components. Total polyphenol and phenolic acid contents in the methanol extract were found to be 269.85 ± 15.25 and 410.72 ± 9.48 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight, respectively. Total flavonoid and flavonol contents were estimated to be 82.28 ± 3.21 and 151.25 ± 8.75 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g dry weight, respectively. Total polyphenol and phenolic acid contents in the aqueous extract were found to be 157.05 ± 11.21 and 490.50 ± 10.20 mg GAE/g dry weight, respectively. Total flavonoid and flavonol contents in the aqueous extract were estimated to be 95.80 ± 3.12 and 162.72 ± 9.18 mg QE/g dry weight, respectively. The methanol and aqueous leaf extracts indicated presence of vital phytoconstituents of polyphenols, flavonoids, flavonols that contributed significantly to its antioxidant capacity. Results obtained from the present study signify that the methanol and aqueous leaf extracts of H. rhamnoides possess antioxidant properties and could possibly act as primary antioxidants by scavenging free radicals in disease conditions.

Allium odorum (A. odorum) L. which is locally known as Maroi nakupi (Chinese chives) belongs to the Alliaceae family and is generally used as condiments/vegetables/spice or as a medicinal herb in Manipur since time immemorial. It can be eaten either as raw/fresh/ or as cooked/ boiled besides consuming as salads and soups. This plant which is similar to normal grass in appearance, is an important perennial, draught resistant, fast-growing and quickest income-generating herb. In view of the various health benefits, we aimed to study the phytochemical screening, its antimicrobial activities and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of A. odorum L.collected from Ema market Manipur. Preliminary phytochemical screening shows the presence of most of the phytochemicals in both aqueous and methanolic extracts of A.odorum L.except amino acids, carbohydrates, steroids and terpenoids. Cardiac glycosides were found to be present in aqueous extract but absent in methanolic extract. Both the phenolic and flavonoid content of A. odorum L.were higher in methanolic extract than aqueous extract. Percentage DPPH scavenging activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts was comparable with standard ascorbic acid with methanolic extract showing higher scavenging activity than aqueous extract. Reducing power for both the aqueous and methanolic extracts showed a slight higher in the methanolic extract. Similar trend was noted in total anti-oxidant activity where methanolic extract showed higher activity than aqueous extract. Antimicrobial Screening for both the methanolic and aqueous extracts of Allium odorum L.showed that both the extracts were found to have antibacterial activity against E.coli and P.aeruginosa but not against B.subtilis and S.aureus. The extracts showed no antifungal activity against any of the test fungi. The methanolic extract exhibited more antibacterial activity when compared with the aqueous extract. It was also observed that both the methanolic and aqueous extract showed antibacterial activity against gram negative bacteria only. GC-MS analysis is the first step towards understanding the nature of the bioactive compounds and this study leads to the identification of a number of compounds. Isolation of individual phytochemical constituent and subjecting it to biological activity will definitely give fruitful results. Furthur studies for identification of the bioactive components responsible for higher anti-oxidant activity and exploitation for largescale production for used in pharmaceutical industries will be our next target. The present study provides a baseline data for future studies geared towards the therapeutic benefits of A.odorum L.

Antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of four different extracts derived from the aerial parts of Chiliadenus iphinoides

The aqueous, hexane, acetone, and methanol extracts of the stem bark of Anthocleista vogelii. Planch. (Loganiaceae) were screened for antiulcerogenic activity using HCl/ethanol gastric necrotizing solution. The methanol extract showed 100% inhibition at a dose of 500 mg/kg compared with the aqueous, hexane, and acetone extracts, which produced 87.91%, 61.39%, and 76.89%, respectively. The methanol and aqueous extracts were further tested against ulceration induced by indomethacin (30 mg/kg) and pylorus ligation at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg. The aqueous extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg significantly (p ≤ 0.01) reduced indomethacin-induced gastric lesions by 78.62% while the methanol extract at the same dose completely inhibited the action of indomethacin. The aqueous extract of A. vogelii. at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg induced a decrease of about 15% and 40%, respectively, of the surface area in the pylorus-ligated rats. Similarly, the methanol extract at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg produced a decrease of almost 25% and 70%, respectively. The gastric juice secretion increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) at a dose of 500 mg/kg in the aqueous extract while the gastric acidity significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased at doses of 125 and 500 mg/kg in aqueous and methanol extracts as compared with the control group. These findings show that the aqueous and organic extracts of the stem bark of Anthocleista vogelii. possess potent antiulcer properties thereby lending support to the ethnomedical uses of the plant in the treatment of stomachache.

Portulacaria afra, is indigenous to South Africa and has been identified to have several medicinal properties according to traditional knowledge and few studies. The drive around this research is to evaluate the medicinal properties of the leaves, stems and for the first time the roots extracts of Portulacaria afra, using four solvents with different polarities. The aqueous (60°C), methanol, n-hexane and ethyl acetate whole plant extracts of P. afra were investigated for their phytochemical properties, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. The phytochemical screening revealed that the methanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaves displayed high presence of secondary metabolites compared to n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts. The methanolic leaves extracts showed strong presence of quinones, phenols, steroid and coumarins while the aqueous leaves extracts contained a moderate presence of saponins, terpenoids, quinones and coumarins. Ethyl acetate leaves extracts revealed a strong presence of tannins, moderate presence of phytosteroids and a low presence of volatile oil. Meanwhile, the leaves extracts with n-hexane showed a considerable amount of saponins with a moderate presence, and a low presence of tannins, volatile oils and terpenoids. The methanolic stems extracts displayed the most significant presence of secondary metabolites, showing a high presence of terpenoids, steroids, phenols and coumarins. The aqueous stems extracts showed a strong presence of glycosides with a moderate presence of saponins. However, ethyl acetate and n-hexane stems extracts displayed a few secondary metabolites with their concentration ranging from medium to low. The ethyl acetate roots extracts displayed a significant elevated amount of quinones with a strong presence. n-hexane roots extracts showed a moderate presence of volatile oil and a low presence of tannins and steroids. Methanolic roots extracts showed a moderate presence of coumarins and glycosides while aqueous roots extracts showed a low presence of glycosides. The overall highest total phenolics contents (TPCs) and total flavonoids contents (TFCs) in all the plant parts, were found to be in the methanol stems extracts and aqueous roots extracts respectively. Next to the methanol leaves and aqueous leaves extracts respectively. However, in the root’s extracts, the aqueous extracts showed the highest total phenolics content while the water extracts had the highest total flavonoids contents. The antimicrobial activities of P. afra whole plant extracts with the various four solvents were tested against three microorganisms Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptomyces griseus using agar-well diffusion method. The Antimicrobial activity of the n-hexane extracts of the leaves, stems and roots of P. afra presented a wide range of inhibition against all the test microorganisms, ethyl acetate leaves extract showed a considerable effect against Staphylococcus aureus while the methanolic extracts were not active. Aqueous roots extracts demonstrated a strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus while the other extracts were not active. The zones of inhibition ranged from 13 to 24 mm for the plant extracts. The antioxidant activity potential of the aqueous, methanol, n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of P. afra leaves, stems and roots extracts were observed through a 2, 2 diphenylpicryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay, hydrogen peroxide scavenging (H₂O₂) and metal chelating activity assay. Ethyl acetate roots extracts exhibited the strongest hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity compared to the other extracts. Meanwhile, aqueous stems extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity against DPPH radical. Aqueous and n-hexane roots extracts displayed the strongest metal chelating ability. These findings reveal the efficacy of the use of several solvents with different polarities for effective and more accurate extraction of various compounds and indicate that the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of P. afra parts are dependent on the solvent extracts.

Aim: This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and in vitro antioxidant properties of methanol and aqueous leaf extracts of Geophila obvallata using standard methods.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: The in vitro antioxidant assays carried out were 1, 1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, Nitric oxide (NO•) radical scavenging activity assay, 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS•+) radical cation scavenging assay, ferric reducing properties and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays.&#x0D; Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, steroids, saponins, terpernoids and cardiac glycosides in both extracts. Relative to the aqueous extract, the methanol extract contained a higher amount of the secondary metabolites. However, both extracts exhibited appreciable and dose-dependent capacities for quenching DPPH, ABTS•+ and NO• free radicals, and potent ferric reducing ability to levels comparable to those of ascorbic acid. The crude methanol extract showed significantly increased (P&lt;0.05) antioxidant activity than the aqueous extract.&#x0D; Conclusion: It was concluded that the extract possesses strong antioxidant properties due to its content of phytochemicals, and provides scientific basis for its ethno medicinal applications.

Background: Waltheria indica is an antioxidant rich flowering plant species in its various parts and usually used in sub-Saharan Africa's traditional medicine. The aim of this work was to evaluate the anti-radical activity of different concentrations of aqueous and methanolic extracts of stem, stem bark and leaves of Waltheria indica, in order to determine the most antioxidant organ of the plant on the one hand and the type of extraction allowing to collect the maximum of bioactive compound on the other hand. Methods: The method used is based on the measurement of the free radicals of the radical cation of 2,2'-azinobis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] (ABTS•+) compared to that of a reference antioxidant, the gallic acid. Results and Discussion: With the methanolic extraction, the results obtained showed that the stem bark was the most active organ followed by the stem and then the leaves. The IC50 obtained were: for the stem bark (IC50 = 4.3 µg.mL-1); for the stem (IC50 = 6 µg.mL-1); and the leaf (IC50 = 37.5 µg.mL-1). Gallic acid, the referenced antioxidant, showed an IC50 of 0.41 µg.mL-1. Regarding the extraction method, aqueous extraction had a higher yield (IC50 of stem aqueous extract = 2.5 µg.mL-1) compare to methanolic extraction (IC50 of stem methanolic extract = 6 µg.mL-1). Conclusion: Aqueous extraction showed a better yield than methanolic extraction. The various organs of Waltheria indica, particularly the stem bark, can provide natural antioxidants that can be used in preventive medicine.

Ovicidal and larvicidal activity of extracts from medicinal-plants against Haemonchus contortus

Introduction and Aim: Plants are considered to be novel source of active compounds having pharmacological properties and help in the development of therapeutic agents. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-proliferating activity of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Grewia heterotricha Mast.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: The aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of the plant were assessed for their in-vitro antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging activity, in-vivo anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan induced rat paw edema method, in-vivo analgesic activity by acetic acid-induced writhing test and in-vitro anti- proliferating activity by MTT assay.&#x0D; Results: The methanolic extract had shown very significant DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 value 98.95?g/ml than aqueous extract and showed a significant reduction in the paw volume of rats at the concentration of 100 mg/kg body weight indicating potent anti-inflammatory activity compared with the reference standard Diclofenac sodium. Both the extracts showed significant analgesic effect (p&lt;0.001) in acetic acid-induced pain models in a dose dependent manner. The methanolic extract showed higher analgesic activity compared to aqueous extract by inhibiting the pain indicated by a decrease in the number of writhes. In addition, both the extracts showed a decrease in MCF-7 cell viability at the concentration of 550µg/ml. Compared to the aqueous extract, MEGH has shown more cytotoxic effect on the cancer cell lines.&#x0D; Conclusion: The results suggest that both aqueous and methanolic extracts of Grewia heterotricha Mast. leaves possess potent antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferating properties, which supports the use of the plant in traditional medicine. Further investigation is required to illuminate on its active compounds.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Analgesic; anti-inflammatory; DPPH; cytotoxic.

As a result of increased interest in the production of plant-based drugs for the treatment of many diseases has become a significant reason why people have become more coversant in the use of traditional medicine for the treatment of mild and serious illness. Due to increase in the thrust for the production of plant-based drugs, this present study was carried out to compare the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant potencies of acetone, methanol and aqueous leaf extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana collected from Kaura Namoda Botanical Garden in Zamfara State-Nigeria. The antioxidant activities was evaluated using various assays; The total phenolic content of aqueous, methanol and acetone leaf extract were 15.58 0.66 mg GAE/g, 14.10 2.17 mg GAE/g and 8.70 0.01 mg GAE/g respectively. Total flavonol contents; 207.10 11.53 mg QE/g, 196.08 5.53 mg QE/g and 112.04 8.27 mg QE/g respectively. Total flavonoid contents; 240.99 9.50 mg QE/g, 252.52 3.73 mg QE/g and 123.88 5.58 mg QE/g respectively. FRAP values were 679.14 0.45 mmol/g, 611.90 7.09 mmol/g and 292.07 11.38mmol/g respectively. ABTS activity of aqueous, methanol and acetone leaf extract were 24.30 5.86 mg AAE/g, 14.49 1.02 mg AAE/g and 7.00 0.57 mg AAE/g respectively, methanol leaf extract had the highest percentage DPPH Inhibition value of 42.64 5.13, followed by aqueous (31.77 4.08) at 0.25mg/ml while aqueous had the highest (52.63 0.67), followed by methanol extract (44.80 2.80) at 0.50mg/ml. Aqueous extract had the highest percentage inhibition of Nitric Oxide with a value of 59.74 1.30, followed by methanol extract (46.11 2.54) at 0.25mg/ml. inhibition for aqueous was also highest at 0.5 mg/ml. Aqueous extract had the highest percentage lipid peroxidation inhibition value of 22.66 2.93, followed by methanol leaf extract with the value of 18.89 0.80 while at 0.50mg/ml methanol leaf extract had the highest percentage inhibition of lipid peroxidation (39.42 3.10), followed by aqueous leaf extract with the value of 31.48 1.61. The results showed that aqueous and methanol leaf extract of Acalypha wilkesiana displayed potent antioxidant effects with the aqueous having an edge. This present study therefore supports the view that Acalypha wilkesiana can be used in the management of oxidative stress and other related diseases.