Phytochemical Assessment, Anti-inflammatory and Antimalarial Activities of Beta vulgaris (Chenopodiaceae) Root Extract

Abstract

The study evaluated the phytochemicals, acute toxicity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimalarial activities of B. vulgaris extract. The antioxidant potential was examined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and the formalin-induced inflammation technique was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. Also, the in vivo antimalarial activity was evaluated against Plasmodium berghei parasites and the required doses were given according to the weight of the animal two hours after inoculation of parasites on D1, then once daily for D2-D4. Phytochemical analysis showed that Beta vulgaris extract contained alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, phenolics, anthraquinones, and flavonoids. The oral administration of crude ethanol extract of B. vulgaris to Swiss mice was not toxic even up to a dose of 5000 mg/kg. The root extract had the highest percentage inhibition of 74.46 ± 0.98 and for ascorbic acid 98.66 ± 0.16 at 1000 µg/mL extract in the antioxidant evaluation. Beta vulgaris had significant anti-inflammatory activity at 50 mg/kg at 1hr being the most effective. There was a dose-dependent increase in percentage chemo-suppression of the parasites by the different groups with maximum effect at 800 mg/kg (59.68-35.09%). This study validates the phytomedicinal use of beet root extract for the management of inflammation, malaria and oxidative stress-related infections.