GCMS and HPLC profiling, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Crotalaria medicaginea Lamk

Abstract

Inflammation is the underlying process to many degenerative diseases such as emphysema, cancer, Alzheimer's, arthritis, diabetes, and more recently COVID-19. The overproduction of free radicals in the cells is the major factor that leads to inflammation due to oxidative stress. These free radicals damage macromolecules in cells, including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, through oxidation, thus affecting cell metabolism. Antioxidants can delay the oxidation of these molecules through inhibition of oxidizing chain reactions and can be helpful in treating inflammatory diseases. Crotalaria medicaginea Lamk (Fabaceae) is an important medicinal plant that is not extensively explored for its biological and pharmacological potential on scientific grounds. In this study, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the crude methanolic extract and different solvent fractions of the plant were determined. Phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins were quantified in each plant sample. The crude extract was characterized for its phytochemical constituents through GC–MS and HPLC analysis. Strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of plant extracts were recorded which can be attributed to the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, terpenes, and tannins in these extracts. GC–MS analysis confirmed the presence of Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester, and 9-Octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (E)- as major compounds while HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of gallic acid, taxifolin, quercetin and kaempferol in the plant.