In Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Methanol and Dichloromethane Extracts of the Leaf of Globimetula oreophila

Aims: The study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and membrane stabilizing potentials of the leaf of Globimetula oreophila, with a view to providing scientific support for the acclaimed ethnomedicinal or traditional uses of the plant.

Methodology: The study involved collection, identification, drying, pulverizing, extraction and fractionation of extracts of the dried leaves of G. oreophila. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the extracts and fractions were evaluated using red blood cell membrane stabilization technique, while assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate, nitric oxide, total antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power).

Results: The results revealed that the extracts and the fractions of G. oreophila exhibited potent antioxidant activities. Fraction 1 of the methanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with IC50 of 45.83 ± 0.13 µg/ml while fraction 7 of the same extract was the most potent in stabilizing stressed red blood cells having 100±0.00% membrane stability. The activities of both the fractions and the extracts of G. oreophila compared favourably with the standard antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs. Moreover, the activities of the fractions and extracts are concentration dependent.

Conclusion: The study revealed that the extracts and fractions of G. oreophila possess and exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities which were concentration dependent and compared favourably with those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.