Phytochemical estimation, evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activity of three different solvent extracts of Croton joufra leaves: A medicinal plant of Assam, India

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND: The ancient medicinal herb known as croton joufra, which originated in northeastern India, is still used today in folk medicine to treat a wide range of illnesses. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring active compounds found in plants that provide various biological activities in humans and animals. METHODS: Soxhlet extraction was used to prepare extracts of three different solvents (chloroform, methanol, and 50% ethanol). Total alkaloid and total tannin were calculated using the simple titrimetric method. Folin and Ciocalteu’s colorimetric method was used to estimate the total phenol content. In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using three different methods: DPPH free radical scavenging assay, hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, and ABTS radical scavenging assay. Heat-induced bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation assay was used for evaluating in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. In vitro antidiabetic activity was determined by alpha-amylase inhibition assay. RESULTS: Among these three solvent extracts, a high amount of yield was found in the hydroalcoholic extract. Based on the qualitative and quantitative tests of plant extracts, it was shown that hydroalcoholic extracts contained a higher amount of alkaloids (162.33 ± 0.96 mg/g of dry extract), phenols (205.30 ± 0.95 mg/g of dry extract of gallic acid equivalent), and tannins (214.50 ± 0.95mg/g of dry extract) compared to chloroform and methanolic extract. Among these three extracts, the hydroalcoholic extract and methanolic extract have better antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities than standard drugs such as ascorbic acid, aspirin, and metformin. CONCLUSION: From the results of the experiment, it was concluded that among these three solvent extracts, the hydroalcoholic (50% ethanol) extract contains substantial amounts of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, phenols, and tannins. The hydroalcoholic extract also has promising pharmacological properties. So the hydroalcoholic extract of Croton joufra leaves may be used as a raw material for drug development.