In vitro antioxidant and anti-arthritic effect of the aqueous and ethanolic leaf and root bark extract of Alafia barteri

Abstract

Alafia barteri (Apocynaceae) is a climbing shrub having white or pink flowers. Traditionally, it has been used to treat diseases like malaria, sickle cell anemia, and eye infections. This research is focused on investigating the antioxidant and anti-arthritic activities of the aqueous and ethanol leaf and root extract of Alafia barteri plant in vitro. In-vitro antioxidant methods used were 2, 2 -diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, reducing power activity and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay while the anti-arthritic activity was studied using the assay method of protein denaturation. Results revealed that aqueous and ethanol root extracts scavenge free radicals, thus inhibiting damage caused by oxidative stress in arthritis while the ethanol extracts of both the leaf and roots had good anti-arthritic activities as seen in its ability to decrease protein denaturation.