Abstract
Comparative analyses of the antioxidant and membrane stabilizing activities of ethanolic extracts of leaf and root of Cyphospenna adenocaulis (Steud) were investigated with a view to further investigate the biological activities of the plant. Both the leaf and root of C. adenocaulis were extracted with 70% ethanol to yield the ethanolic leaf extract (ELE) and ethanolic root extract (ERE) respectively. Phytochemical analyses of the ELE and ERE revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins and cardiac glycosides while alkaloids were present in the ERE. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the ELE was estimated as 108.0 ± 0.27 mg/g TAE (tannic acid equivalent) and 33.4± 0.32 mg/g QE (Quercetin equivalent) while the ERE contained 182.6 ±0.38 mg/g TAE and 103± 0.43 mg/g QE, respectively. The antioxidant activities of ELE and ERE were investigated using various in vitro assay systems. Both extract exhibited dose-dependent DPPH radical scavenging activity, appreciable reducing power and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in bovine liver homogenate. ELE and ERE were able to protect red blood cell (RBC) membrane against hypotonic and heat induced lyses in a concentration dependent manner. The modes of action were monophasic at various concentrations assayed and were comparable to the standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used as positive control. The extracts (ELE and ERE) of C. adenocaulis possess appreciable and potent antioxidant and membrane stabilization potentials, however, the ERE displayed a stronger antioxidant and membrane stabilizing activities. Key words: Flavonoids, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid peroxidation, membrane stabilization.
Highlights
Plants have been the basis of many traditional medicines throughout the world for thousands of years and have continued to provide new remedies to mankind
The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the ethanolic leaf extract (ELE) was estimated as 108.0 ± 0.27 mg/g tannic acid equivalent (TAE) and 33.4± 0.32 mg/g quercetin equivalent (QE) (Quercetin equivalent) while the ethanolic root extract (ERE) contained 182.6 ±0.38 mg/g TAE and 103± 0.43 mg/g QE, respectively
Phytochemical screening of C. adenocaulis extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and cardiac glycosides in the ERE of C. adenocaulis while the same phytochemicals were present in the ELE except alkaloids
Summary
Plants have been the basis of many traditional medicines throughout the world for thousands of years and have continued to provide new remedies to mankind. Antioxidants are defined as naturally occurring bioactive molecules that inhibit the process of oxidation even at relatively small concentrations and elicit diverse physiological roles in the biological systems. They act as free radical scavengers, convert free radicals to less reactive species and defend against oxidative damages (Omwamba et al, 2013). The stabilization of red blood cells membrane by drugs against hypotonicity induced hemolysis serves as a useful in vitro method for assessing the anti-inflammatory activity of various compounds (Oyedapo et al, 1999). This study sort to provide information on the antioxidant and the membrane stabilizing potentials of the ethanolic extract of C. adenocaulis
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