In vitro bioactivity of extracts from seeds of Cassia absus L. growing in Pakistan

Abstract

Cassia absus seeds are widely used in traditional medicine for treatment of skin infections, wound healing, hypertension, peptic ulcers and anuria. The current study evaluated the antioxidant, antibacterial, and enzyme inhibitory activity of extracts obtained from the seeds of C. absus L. (Leguminosae) to determine a mechanism for the traditional use of the seeds. Crude ethanolic extract of C.absus seeds was prepared by maceration method and n-butanol, choloroform, n-hexane and water fractions were prepared from crude ethanol extract. The antibacterial activity of samples was determined by agar well diffusion and broth micro dilution assay. The antioxidant activity of the crude extract and fractions was evaluated for free radical scavenging activity by DPPH assay. The enzyme inhibition activity of crude extract and fractions was determined against urease, carbonic anhydrase and xanthine oxidase. The n-hexane and n-butanol fractions showed promising activity against gram-positive bacteria when compared with ceftriaxone as a standard. Moreover, the crude ethanol extract and water fraction displayed the most potent activity in urease inhibition assay. The results showed that crude extract and all the fractions have urease inhibition. In the case of carbonic anhydrase, only the crude ethanolic extract and water fraction exhibited inhibitory activity. Interestingly, none of the extracts or fractions showed significant inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase and DPPH. Data obtained tends to corroborate with the reported traditional usage of the plant, as the traditional use of C. absus seeds in skin infections and wound healing could be explained by its promising antibacterial activity. The traditional diuretic, antihypertensive effect could be due to its carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity. Anti-ulcer effect could be due to urease and carbonic anhydrase inhibition. However, further in vivo and clinical trials are required to confirm these activities of seeds.